ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 29, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
AK PARTY WINS 56 PROVINCES
The winner of local elections has become Justice and Development Party (AK Party). AK Party won municipal elections in 56 of 81 provinces according to the last certain results. Republican People's Party (CHP) had 9, Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) had 5, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had 4, Democratic Left Party (DSP) had 3, True Path Party (DYP) had 1 and Felicity Party (SP) had 1 mayors, while one independent mayor was elected in Ardahan province.

THE U.S.: ELECTION RESULTS LIKE WE EXPECTED
Washington administration thinks local elections in Turkey ended like they expected. A high-ranking official told Hurriyet that according to recent information, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) would gain votes between 40 and 50 percent, adding that some circles were talking about 60 percent, but the results were nearly like they predicted. The official said that AK Party was a popular party, adding that they congratulated AK Party and wished good luck.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ERDOGAN: I WILL NOT ACT LIKE OZAL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he would not hold early elections, like former President Turgut Ozal did in the past because votes for his party increased ten percent in local elections. When asked whether early general elections would be held, Erdogan said that he would not act like Ozal and added, ''do not expect such surprises from us. There is a stable situation now.''

SOS TO WASHINGTON
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul phoned U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell before quartet Cyprus conference and asked for their pressure on the European Union (EU) regarding ''sine qua nons'' of Turkey. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will phone U.S. President George Bush.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
PARTY OF TURKEY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) which increased its votes ten points when compared with 2002 elections ranked the first in 57 provinces including 11 great cities and ranked the second in 15 provinces. AK Party gained votes of Ankara and Istanbul, while Republican People's Party (CHP) gained votes of Izmir.

VERHEUGEN: TURKEY SHOULD BE MEMBER OF EU
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU) would be for the interest of everybody. He added that an EU which would be enlarged with Turkey would be a neighbor of the crisis region of the world, Middle East.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
AK PARTY FIRST PARTY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) which joined local elections with the advantage of being the ruling party increased its votes ten percent and gained all big provinces except Izmir. The vote ratio of Republican People's Party (CHP) which was nearly 20 percent in November 3 elections decreased to 16.4 percent.

CONDITIONS OF ANNAN HEAVY
A serious give and take process starts in Switzerland as of tomorrow. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis will also attend the last three-day meetings which will be headed by the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
BIG PROVINCES AK PARTY'S
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) gained votes of Gaziantep and Izmir provinces which have been Republican People's Party's (CHP) for years, besides Istanbul and Ankara. CHP had votes of Izmir with Ahmet Piristina and Mersin with Macit Ozcan in local elections.
10 PEOPLE DIED, 159 DETAINED DURING ELECTIONS
Turkey held the most bloody election after 1980. According to figures of security departments, ten people died and 200 people were injured in nearly 50 incidents while casting votes. 159 people were detained and six people died of heart attack.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
SECOND VICTORY OF AK PARTY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) increased its vote ratio, which was 34.28 in general elections in 2002, to 44 percent in local elections yesterday. Thus, AK Party gained dominance at municipalities as well.

ERDOGAN: I WILL TALK WITH BUSH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said regarding Cyprus negotiations that he had talked with the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of EU Term President Ireland on Saturday, adding that he would also talk with U.S. President George Bush, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
AK PARTY REINFORCES CONFIDENCE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) gained strength in local elections and increased its vote ratio, which was 34 percent in general elections on November 3, more than ten points. Party's exceeding its vote ratio 40 percent means reinforcement of confidence.

ELECTION COMPETITION TURNS INTO FIGHT
Violent events occurred for the first time in local elections after long years. Fights happened in hamlet elections especially in eastern and southeastern regions. Weapons were used in some events and nine people died and also there were nearly 150 injured people.

(GC-AÖ) 29.03.2004