Turkish Officer Killed In An Attack In Hebron

ANKARA, March 26 (A.A) - A Turkish officer died in a shooting in West Bank on Tuesday evening while another Turkish officer was injured.
Turkey's Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu in Tel Aviv told A.A correspondent that Major Cengiz Soytunc lost his life in the shooting which took place outside Hebron while Captain Huseyin was injured.
Uzumcu told that the preliminary reports given by the Israelis said that the vehicle carrying observers in zone A under control of Palestine was stopped by the Palestinians.
Uzumcu said that the reports noted that there was a discussion and fire was opened on observers.
Two observers, including Turkish Major Soytunc died while Turkish Captain Huseyin Ozaslan was injured in the attack, Uzumcu noted.
Uzumcu added that Ozaslan was brought to Jerusalem.
TURKEY IN CONTACT WITH PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI SIDES
Foreign Ministry sources said on Tuesday that Turkey's Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu in Tel Aviv was in contact with Israel while Ambassador Huseyin Avni Bicakci in Jerusalem was contacting with Palestine.
Meanwhile, it was reported that exchange of information continued between Foreign Ministry and General Staff.
It was noted that efforts of the ministry were under way to contact with Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) term president Norway.
Meanwhile, Soytunc's body is expected to be brought to Turkey by a special plane by the General Staff on Wednesday.
Twelve Turkish officers are on mission in TIPH, in which Soytunc and Ozaslan also took place.
A total of 85 officers from Norway, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland are participating in the international force besides Turkey.
The decision to form TIPH was issued in the Official Gazette on August 26, 1997.
NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EXPRESSES CONDOLENCE OVER DEATH OF TURKISH OFFICER
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen expressed late on Tuesday condolence over death of Turkish officer Cengiz Soytunc in an attack in Hebron.
Officials told A.A correspondent that Petersen contacted with Turkish Embassy in Norway following the attack and expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
Petersen, the Foreign Minister of Norway, the term president of Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH), said that they were also investigating the attack. He expressed condolence for Turkish officer who lost his life in the attack and wished quick recovery for the injured Turkish officer.
Jan Petersen told the embassy that he would call Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on Wednesday and inform him about the recent developments.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry is closely following the developments through contacts of Ahmet Uzumcu, Turkey's Ambassador in Tel Aviv, with Israeli side and Huseyin Avni Bicakci, Turkey's Consul General in Jerusalem, with Palestinian side.
Sources said that the Foreign Ministry, which was working in coordination with the General Staff, would release a statement related with the issue.
There are some contradicting statements about the assailant of the attack while diplomatic sources drew the attention that this attack was staged prior to the Arab summit to be held on Wednesday.
Sources noted that attacking on TIPH for the first time would hit and deteriorate efforts for a peace in the region.