Turkish F.M.: Demonstration Of NGOs Helps Release Of Three Kidnapped Turks

ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that demonstration staged by Turkish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) helped release of three Turks kidnapped in Iraq.
Speaking to state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corp. (TRT), Gul confirmed release of three Turkish citizens abducted in Iraq.
Gul said that demonstration and call of NGOs was effective in release of these three Turks from southeastern Diyarbakir province and added, ``I hope such incidents will never repeat. We are pleased with this development. I would like to thank NGOs who are effective in release of these three abducted Turks.``
Earlier, Al Jazeera television, based in Qatar, said three Turkish hostages were released.
Al Jazeera television said a group led by suspected al Qaeda operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had freed the three, who were kidnapped last week, ``for the sake of Muslims in Turkey`` and because of the demonstrations held in Turkey against U.S. President George Bush.
(BRC-AÖ) 29.06.2004