ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on August 03, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FOR THE FIRST TIME A TURKISH HOSTAGE KILLED IN IRAQ
Militants of Tawhid and Jihad, a group linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, killed Turkish driver Murat Yuce after making him read a text calling on the Turkish companies not to do business with U.S. forces.
The executioners hid their faces with kaffiyehs in front of video cameras.
A Web site showed a videotape of the killing of Murat Yuce, the Turkish hostage. The murderers killed Yuce with a bullet and later fired on him two more times.
PROGRESS REPORT COMPLETED
Basic framework of the Progress Report, which has critical importance to set Turkey a date to start full membership negotiations by the end of this year, was completed. However it was reported that consultations would be made with the capital cities of EU member countries before completion of the report.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HE DIED FOR 1.5 BILLION TURKISH LIRA
Turkish driver Murat Yuce, who was violently killed by al Qaeda terrorists, was in Iraq to pay debts of his credit card.
All the world watched killing of Turkish driver Yuce yesterday.
Terrorists, who committed the murder, threatened Turkish companies doing business in Iraq.
International Transporters' Association stopped transportation of goods belonging to U.S. troops.
Leyla Yuce, wife of Murat Yuce, said, ''August 3 was his birthday. We have twin children aged 8. I told them that their father was injured. He was trying to pay debt of our credit card. Can those who committed this be Moslems?''
MOGHADAM IN TURKEY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam arrived in Ankara on Monday.
Other officials of IMF delegation are also expected to arrive in Ankara. Preliminary talks with IMF delegation will be held at office of the Undersecretary of the Treasury tonight. Official meetings will start as of tomorrow morning.
Babacan invited IMF delegation to Turkey to exchange view about technical details of economic programs which cover 2005, 2006 and 2007.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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LAST HOURS FOR TWO TURKS
The period given for drivers Abdurrahim Demir and Sait Onurlu, who were kidnapped in Iraq two days ago, will expire.
Yurda Onurlu, wife of Sait Onurlu said, ''I want my husband to be released for the sake of my six children.''
Oztur Transportation Company officials withdrew its 23 personnel in Iraq and said it stopped its activities in Iraq.
AND THE LORRIES STOP TRANSPORTATION
International Transporters' Association's (UND) Chairman Cetin Nuhoglu said they stopped ferrying U.S. cargo to Iraq with lorries following the execution of a Turkish driver.
Nuhoglu said they would not transport goods to Iraq anymore as loss of lives increased in attacks.
''Exporters Assembly'' and two other associations think that this was an early decision.
(AY-ULG)) 03.08.2004