ANKARA (A.A) - 05.05.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 5, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT SCARED US
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was taken to the hospital yesterday at 3 p.m. with an intense pain on his waist. After making a number of tests, doctors diagnosed him with an intestinal infection. The prime minister spent the night at the hospital upon the recommendation of his doctor.

KEBAP SELLER TAKES HOSTAGES AT THE MARMARA FOR CHECHENS
Mustafa Yildirim, owner of a kebap restaurant in Karaman took 13 people hostage at Istanbul's The Marmara Hotel. The 29-year old armed man surrendered after Istanbul Security Director Hasan Ozdemir told him that ''he would pay a high cost if something happens to even one of the hostages.'' During his interrogation, Yildirim told the police that he did such a thing in order to make the world hear the voice of the Chechen people.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT FRIGHTENS TURKEY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who was taken to hospital due to the pain in his waist, spent the night at Baskent Hospital. Prof. Dr. Turgut Zileli said after six hours that Ecevit had an intestinal infection. Zileli said that there was no need for any operation, adding that ''they started to give medication to him. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer got information about the medical condition of Prime Minister Ecevit during the day. Bahceli didn't cancel his trip when he was informed that Ecevit's condition was not serious. True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller phoned Rahsan Ecevit and AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to the hospital.

CHECHEN ACTION HITS TURKEY'S TOURISM
The tourism season in Turkey started with an activity of Chechen activist. Turkey was hit for the second time with the raid in a five star hotel in Istanbul. Mustafa Yildirim, who is a Turkish citizen of Chechen origin and who did not look sane took 13 persons hostage, fired ten shots in the air and he was captured in the end.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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CHECHEN RAID SEEMS AS A PLOT
Mihde Nuzhet Cetinbas, the Executive Board President of the ''Foundation of the Caucasus'' claimed that the Chechen raid in the The Marmara Hotel of Istanbul seemed as if it was a plot. ''Tourists told the press after the Chechen gunman surrendered to police that 'you see Chechens, how dangerous they are. They don't sit still, they just cause incidents everywhere.' I think this has been done on purpose,'' Cetinbas claimed.

SP MEMBERS APPLAUD LADEN AND SADDAM
The members of the Felicity Party's (SP) Youth Branches shouted slogans to extend support to Saudi terrorist Osama Bin Laden and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, while U.S. President George W. Bush was criticized.

YILMAZ: GERMANY IS KEY COUNTRY FOR TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
Deputy Prime Minister, State Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said on Saturday that Germany is a key country in Turkey's accession to EU. Speaking in the meeting on Turkish-EU relations held jointly by Kondrad Adenauer Foundation and Turkish-German Forum, Yilmaz said that the support of Germany is very important for Turkey. If foreign capital comes to Turkey, the Turkish economy will further grow, Yýlmaz stressed.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ECEVIT IN HOSPITAL
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was taken to hospital yesterday with an acute pain on his waist and discomfort in his digestive system. Ecevit's doctor Prof. Turgut Zileli said they came across no serious problem but he was suspecting intestinal infection. He said that Ecevit could leave the hospital on Sunday.
Ecevit started feeling the pain when he was in a meeting with the representatives of mine workers.

TURKS CANNOT QUIT SMOKING
A research institution ACNielsen conducted a survey which showed that Turks are consuming less food and getting washed less frequently compared to the first three months of 2001 due to the economic crisis but they don't smoke less. The cigarette consumption decreased only two percent although cigarette prices increased by 77 percent.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY EXPORTS ALMOST ALL OF ECOLOGIC PRODUCE TO OTHER COUNTRIES
Some 18,500 companies in Turkey are producting 100 kinds of produce without using any insecticides or hormon treatment. These produce are sold at a price 10 to 30 percent higher than other hormon treated produce. There's a big demand from European countries for Turkey's produce which is grown without any insecticides and hormon treatment. Turkey's produce which is exported to other countries are inspected to make sure they don't have any residues of insecticides. Those which are sold in the domestic market don't go through such an inspection.

GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION AND BUSINESS WORLD AGREE ON A ''NEW BEGINNNING''
The government, opposition and business world agreed on a ''new beginning'' during the meeting of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). This new beginning includes recoverng of the business environment, giving the government a regulating role in economy, and changing the political parties law. The leaders if the coalition parties did not attend the meeting while True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan were present at the meeting.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE IN TURKEY
Israeli Radio reported yesterday that a planned international Middle East
conference attended by Israel, Palestinians and moderate Arab states will be held in Turkey. An official from the Foreign Ministry confirmed the news telling that ''we had earlier conveyed our desire to hold such a conference to both sides. Our door is open to everything for peace.''

COUNCIL OF CRISES
More the election competition in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the unpleasent incidents which took place during the meeting will be remembered. When businessmen and True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller harshly cirticized the government, State Minister Kemal Dervis was very angry with Ciller. Meanwhile Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and AK party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan left the meeting telling that they were not allowed to speak in the meeting.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY TO HOST MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE
Israeli radio yesterday announced that U.S. officials were planning to hold an international Middle East Peace Conference attended by the Israeli and Palestinian sides in Turkey. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem had earlier proposed to both sides to hold the conference in Turkey but said he wasn't informed about the latest developments.