ISTANBUL - Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said on Tuesday that a Turkish citizen was executed bloodthirstily the day before in Iraq.
''I think they are not human beings and they don't even have a religion,'' he said as regards the killers.
Replying to questions, Sahin said, ''we have been exerting efforts to rescue the remaining Turkish hostages in Iraq. There is a very serious authority vacuum there. So citizens of other countries who go there for business face such risks. Unfortunately, video of killing of one Turkish citizen was shown yesterday. He was shot dead bloodthirstily. I don't think they (the killers) are human beings and they have a religion. The relevant ministries and institutions, the government and state of the Republic of Turkey have been following the event.''
Stressing that they should discuss the issue seriously with Iraqi officials and U.S.-led force, Sahin said, ''we send humanitarian aid to Iraq. We supply their basic needs. I suppose that Turkey is the most appropriate country in this regard. I think that our self-sacrificing attitude to have people there to survive, should absolutely be rewarded by taking appropriate security measures.''
Replying to a question, Sahin said, ''as far as I know there are two more Turkish hostages.''
(MS-ULG) 03.08.2004