ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on August 23rd, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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LET US TRY HIM
Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office requested permission from the Ministry of Transportation to launch an investigation against State Railways (TCDD) Director General Suleyman Karaman on charges of starting high-speed train journeys before completing infrastructure feasibility studies. The Office combined all indictments following the train derailment in northwestern province of Sakarya in which 38 people were killed and 95 others were injured. Prosecutor Abbas Ozden was assigned to conduct the investigation.

BOAT SINKS KILLING AN AFGHAN MIGRANT
A boat carrying illegal migrants sank off Altinoluk region in Edremit town of northwestern province of Balikesir, killing an Afghan migrant aboard. After fishermen informed officials on the accident, search-and-rescue teams rushed to the area and saved 15 people. Fishermen found body of an Afghan person. Efforts have been continuing to find four missing people. Meanwhile, migrants claimed that captain of the boat fled from the area by another boat.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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RUN ELVAN RUN
Turkey will experience one of its most important days in the history of the Olympic Games. Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey will run the final of women's 5,000-meter and vie for gold medal at the 28th Summer Olympic Games in Greek capital Athens. The final will take place at 22.00 p.m. Turkish local time.

ANXIOUS WAITING
Although 72-hour period given by militants ended overnight, Aytullah Gezmen who has been kept hostage in Iraq for 23 days, has not been released yet. His family has been anxiously praying for his release. Bilintur, the Turkish firm that employed Gezmen, and sister firm Tepe Construction announced on Thursday that they were withdrawing from Iraq to secure his release. His brother Huseyin Gezmen said, ''we are very worried. We don't understand why they did not release him yet.'' Murat Yuce, who also worked for Bilintur and was kidnapped at the same time as Gezmen, was recently shot three times in the head in Iraq by al-Qaeda linked militants loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: ''A NEW ERA IS ABOUT TO BEGIN''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''a new era will begin for Turkey after opening of accession talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU) during the EU's summit on December 17.'' Erdogan spent the weekend in northern province of Rize to attend the Fifth Handuzu Pasture Festival.

ARE TURKISH PILOTS IN DANGER?
The Civil Aviation Labour Union claimed, ''Turkish pilots have lesser time to have rest than their European colleagues. Their working schedule disrupts their health. They are always tired since they cannot rest properly. It is the basic reason of accidents.'' While Turkish pilots fly for 110 hours in a month, pilots of Alitalia fly for 75 hours, pilots of the Iberai fly for 80 hours and pilots of the Lufthansa fly for 75 hours.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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INVESTIGATION AGAINST TCDD
Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office has taken the first step to determine whether there were administrative failures in last month's high-speed train derailment in northwestern province of Sakarya in which 38 people were killed and 95 others were injured. The Office requested permission from the Ministry of Transportation to launch an investigation against State Railways (TCDD) Director General Suleyman Karaman for starting high-speed train journeys before completing infrastructure feasibility studies.

VILLAGE GUARD DIES AFTER STEPPING ON A LAND-MINE
A village guard died after stepping on a land-mine which was planted by PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorists in Balveren region in southeastern province of Sirnak. Village guard Abduaziz Bayram was seriously injured in the blast. He was rushed to hospital, but he could not survive.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NINE INJURED IN ARMED ATTACK IN ISTANBUL
An unidentified person opened fire on a group of people waiting outside a restaurant in Bostanci neighborhood of Istanbul, injuring nine people. The injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. One of them is in critical condition. Witnesses said that the assailant was in his 20s. Police has launched an operation to capture him who fled away.

NUMBER OF TURKISH INTERNET USERS INCREASES
Number of internet users in Turkey increased 988.9 percent from 450 thousand to 4.9 million in the last three years. Meanwhile, number of internet users in the whole world increased 240 percent from 183 million to 683 million in the same period.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''EU SHOULD KEEP ITS PROMISE''
Foreign Minister Barnier of France said that the European Union (EU) should keep its promises in Turkey's EU membership process. Describing Turkey as a great country, Barnier said that a Turkey with a European perspective would be beneficial to the EU. Referring to reform process in Turkey, Barnier said that Turkey had made a significant progress in the last few years.

NEWSWEEK EULOGIZES ERDOGAN AND CARAMANLIS
American Newsweek magazine said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis had developed an amazing personal and political friendship. Describing Erdogan and Caramanlis as an interesting double in Europe, the magazine said that their friendship could make a valuable contribution to efforts for resolution of the problems between the two neighboring countries.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FAMILIES OF QUAKE MARTYRS TO BE PAID COMPENSATION
Relatives of 24 soldiers who lost their lives in the massive earthquake disaster on August 17, 1999 won their legal fight. The Council of State's Sixth Chamber ratified decision taken by Sakarya Administrative Court. They are expected to be paid a compensation of 30 billion Turkish liras before end of October.

TERRORIST CAPTURED IN MARDIN
Security forces captured a PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorist in Dargecit town of eastern province of Mardin. Mardin Governor Temel Kocaklar said that the terrorist was planning to stage bomb attacks in several cities. The terrorist was arrested.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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''A NEW ERA WILL START''
Addressing people in northern province of Rize, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, '''a new era will begin for Turkey after opening of accession talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU) during the EU's summit on December 17.'' He stressed that Turkey would have a brilliant future.

TAX REFORM FOR DEVELOPMENT
The Association of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen of Turkey (MUSIAD) proposed a comprehensive and fair tax reform to increase production and investments in an effort to prevent unemployment and to develop the Turkish economy.

(UK-MS) 23.08.2004