ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 17th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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"WON`T YOU TELL ME?"
In an interview with the Hurriyet daily, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "I did not tell name of the Justice & Development (AK) Party`s presidential candidate to anyone till the last moment. That day, my wife asked me whether I won`t tell her. I told her, and I asked not to tell anyone. My wife and my children did not want me to run in the presidential election."

NO BULBS ANY MORE
Turkish scientists at Ankara`s Bilkent University have succeeded in generating a source of light, which will be an alternative to light bulb invented by Thomas Edison. The research group led by Associate Prof. Dr. Hilmi Volkan Demir achieved solid-state white light generation using nanocrystal hybridization on light emitting diode (LED), with tunable color properties for the first time in the world. Nanocrystal LEDs transform electric energy directly to light. Life time of LED-based light sources will last about 23 years.

A LETTER FROM RAKEL DINK TO PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN
Rakel Dink, wife of journalist Hrant Dink, who was killed in January, sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and expressed her concerns about slow progress in the investigation into her husband`s killing.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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LAST DAY FOR ALLIANCE IN LEFT
Efforts for alliance which have been continuing since May 5th between Democratic Left Party (DSP) and Republican People`s Party (CHP) have come to an end. CHP Chairman Deniz Baykal who met DSP chairman Zeki Sezer yesterday said that it is necessary to make a decision due to electoral schedule. The decision is expected to be announced today.

MIT WAS MONITORING PEOPLE ABOARD PLANE
The mystery of the plane --which crashed while on its way to Iran from Turkish northern city of Trabzon-- is under examination. It was revealed that Pakistani retired Gen. Zakaullah Bhamgoo (who died in the plane crash) was called on the phone for 90 times from abroad throughout the two days he stayed in Trabzon. Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) officials got information from the hotel keeper about the pilots. Also Turkish Interior Minister Osman Gunes said that Bhamgoo and British pilot Michael Newman were being monitored.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HIGHER COURT ANNULS RULING ON OFFICERS IN SEMDINLI CASE
Supreme Court of Appeals annulled a verdict on non-commissioned officers Ali Kaya and Ozcan Ildeniz on the grounds that the investigation into the incidents in Semdinli town of the southeastern city of Hakkari was incomplete. Kaya and Ildeniz were sentenced to 39 years 5 months and 10 days of imprisonment on charges of "murder, attempted murder and forming a criminal gang". The court also ruled that the military court should deal with the case.

"WE WILL CARRY ON OUR STRUGGLE EVEN IF WE WERE LEFT ALONE"
Addressing parliamentary group of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "we as the AK Party will carry on our struggle for democracy to gain deeper roots even if we were left alone." "It is an honor for us to shoulder democracy no matter how heavy a burden it is," he added.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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ERDOGAN: "WE DO NOT HAVE A SOCIAL DEMOCRAT LEADER IN TURKEY"
Speaking at the group meeting of his Justice and Development (AK) Party, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated, "we do not have a social democrat leader in Turkey." Erdogan implied an invitation from the Socialist International. He said, "we meet social democrat leaders throughout the world. They all say that there is no single Turkish leader that is a social democrat".

WE SPENT LESS ON MOTHERS THAN VALENTINES
Turks spent 428.6 million YTL with credit cards for their mothers. Interestingly, Turks spent more on their valentines. A total of 501 million YTL was spent on Valentine`s Day. On mother`s day, the sale of gold rose significantly.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SAMSUN TO HOST REPUBLIC RALLY
The northern city of Samsun in getting ready for the "Republic Rally" on May 20th. A number of people from northern part of Turkey are expected to rush to Samsun to attend the rally sponsored by many non-governmental organizations.

SEMDINLI CASE ONCE AGAIN
The Supreme Court of Appeals has annulled the verdict about non-commissioned officers Ali Kaya and Ozcan Ildeniz on the ground of "incomplete investigation". Earlier, the High Criminal Court in the eastern city of Van sentenced Kaya and Ildeniz to 39 years 5 months in prison on charges of "murder, attempted murder and forming a criminal gang".

YES FOR RUSSIANS, NO FOR TURKS
The EU, which insists on applying visa for Turks, will remove the visa requirement for Russian people who are more crowded and poorer than Turks. After Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a series of agreements to transport Turkmen and Kazakh natural gas and oil to Europe, the EU decided to further strengthen its relations with Russia.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HERE IS THE TURKISH INVENTOR
Researchers led by Hilmi Volkan from Ankara`s Bilkent University made a revolution in light bulb. Light Emitting Diode (LED) which was generated by using nanotechnology spreads a very low heat and alternates electrical energy into direct light. LED-based source of lights are cure for global warming as well.

STAR OF CANNES: PAMUK
While the 60th Cannes Film Festival started yesterday, Turkish Nobel Prize-winner novelist Orhan Pamuk posed for photographers together with other jury members. Pamuk who was announced as "a big, very big writer" was applauded for a long time. Pamuk said, "I will watch the films with an excitement of a child."

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKISH EXCITEMENT IN NEW YORK
"Turkish Culture Night" which was held in Brooklyn district of New York was celebrated with excitement. Turkish foods were presented and Turkish movies were displayed. U.S. people participated in Turkish folklore dances.

BARZANI IN SHOCK
Warnings of Turkey towards Iraqi government showed its effects. Iraqi government decided to postpone the referendum which was planned to be held in Kirkuk in November. Barzani and Talabani stated that they will resist the decision and not accept it.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ALL REGISTRATION FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO BE DONE ON INTERNET
Students will conduct their registration for elementary schools on the internet in all 81 provinces of Turkey.

30,000 BUSINESS MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED WITH AFRICANS
The "Turkey-Africa Foreign Trade Bridge" summit began in Istanbul on Wednesday. 27 ministers, 42 chairmen of chambers of commerce and 850 businessmen from Africa are in Istanbul to attend the summit. Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen expects at least 30,000 business meetings to be conducted between Turkish and African businessmen.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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HIGHER COURT OVERRULES SEMDINLI VERDICTS
High Court of Appeals annulled a verdict on two non-commissioned officers who were suspected of involving in the November 2005 incidents of Semdinli, in the eastern city of Hakkari. The court overruled 39-year imprisonment sentences for Ali Kaya and Ozcan Ildeniz each and ordered that the case should be brought before a military court. The higher court also said that "ruling was beyond imagination" and that the lower delivered the ruling on "presumptions."

PLANE WHICH CRASHED IN TRABZON WAS UNDER INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE
A British pilot and a Pakistani passenger of the plane which crashed in Trabzon earlier this week, were claimed to be under the surveillance of Turkish police and intelligence service. A manager from the hotel where two victims had stayed, said that police and intelligence agents had come to hotel and asked information from the management about the men.