ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 12, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
BATTLE IN ZONE 1
Tremors related to lists of candidates started in political parties. Old hands are ranked at the top of the lists. Bulent Ecevit, Kemal Dervis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, three important personalities in Istanbul first zone, will challenge with each other in the general elections.
ECEVIT'S DIFFICULTY IN PERCEPTION
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who gave the message that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was having difficulty in perception, said, ''Mr. Prime Minister could not understand my words about early elections and importance of the European Union (EU) schedule.'' Yilmaz noted, ''I learned from the press that Ecevit said that I asked for the postponement of the elections during our meeting. I called him and I made a reproach and reminded him about our meeting.'' Ecevit responded to Yilmaz as saying, ''Yilmaz came to me with two proposals. One of them was withdrawal of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) from the government and the second was the formation of a new government by political parties in favor of the European Union (EU) membership process. Both of these proposals mean giving up early elections.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
CILLER LEAVES ISTANBUL
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller became a candidate deputy from western Mugla province instead of Istanbul, where she was hardly chosen as a deputy in the previous elections. Democrat Turkey Party (DTP) leader Mehmet Ali Bayar, who made an electoral alliance with Ciller, has run his candidacy from western Izmir province while Bright Turkey Party (ATP) leader Tugrul Turkes is a candidate from central Kayseri province.
''YILMAZ WANTS TO POSTPONE''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who asked us to withdraw from the government, said that it was obligatory to postpone the elections. He said that the elections should be held in April 2003.'' Ecevit stressed that Yilmaz's concern was not the European Union (EU).
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
NEW IMAGE IN AK PARTY, ONLY DERVIS IN CHP
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan ranked former members of Motherland Party (ANAP) and True Path Party (DYP) who joined his party at the top of the candidate lists. Erkan Mumcu, Koksal Toptan and Murat Basesgioglu, who had a center right origin, were ranked at the top of the candidate lists of AK Party. Thus, Erdogan gave an important message to those discussing ''whether or not he has changed.'' Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal did not put new personalities at top of the lists except Yasar Nuri Ozturk and Bayram Meral. Expectations of former State Minister Kemal Dervis' close friends were not met and no visa was given by Baykal to new names except Fikret Unlu, former State Minister for Sports.
DISCUSSION ON GROWTH
Growth rate which was announced the previous day were considered surprise while discussions started as the majority of the society did not feel the growth. When the growth rate of 8.8 percent in the second quarter of the year contradicted with the limited increase in domestic consumption, especially the industrialists defined the national income figures as ''injected with growth hormone.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
LEFT ALLIANCE HAS THREE PARTS
Five political parties which have worked to form left alliance under Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) could not reach an agreement since they could not form a joint decision and law organ. People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Work Party (EMEP) and Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) decided to move under DEHAP. Socialist Democratic Party (TDP) leader Sema Piskinsut and her two friends were shown as the deputy candidates in the lists of Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP) while Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) which could not find a place in the alliances will not participate in the elections.
THERE IS NO GATE FOR DRUG
Istanbul Police Chief Hasan Ozdemir said that they attributed great importance to fight against drug holding a press meeting at Narcotic Directorate. Ozdemir said that they formed 41 teams including 153 personnels in 32 townships to protect Istanbul's youth from drug. Ozdemir said that those teams have intervened in 354 incidents and detained 656 people so far. Ozdemir said that ''street teams'' which worked under the Narcotic Directorate also intervened in 476 incidents and stated that 1130 people were detained, 431 kg of heroin and 278 kg of hashish were seized during the operations.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
LAST DAY ALLIANCE
Searches for alliances did neither bear fruit in the left nor in the right. The only agreement is between True Path Party (DYP) and Democrat Turkey Party (DTP). Socialist People's Party (SHP),People's Democracy Party (HADEP) and Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP); and Felicity Party (SP) and Grand Unity Party (BBP) failed to reach an agreement on electoral alliance due to an argument about what the name of the alliance would be. ODP was started to be represented at the parliament as three deputies of Socialist Democratic Party (TDP) joined this party. DYP and DTP agreed on electoral alliance and made a surprise in the center right.
ERDOGAN AND ERBAKAN CLEAN FOR NOW
Directorate General of Judicial Records and Statistics Wednesday cleared off record of convictions of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and banned Welfare Party (RP) leader Necmettin Erbakan. The Directorate General of Judicial Records and Statistics cleared off record of convictions of Erdogan and Erbakan related with the imprisonment verdict given to them on charges of second paragraph of article 312 of Turkish Penal Code. Thus, both Erdogan and Erbakan have overcome the first obstacle before their deputyship. However, the Higher Election Board (YSK) will make the final decision about their deputyship.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
ECEVIT QUOTES YILMAZ AS SAYING THAT ELECTIONS SHOULD BE POSTPONED
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit quoted Deputy Prime Minister, State Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz as saying that the early elections should be postponed. Ecevit responded to the questions of the reporters at Democratic Left Party (DSP) building. Upon the question related to the proposal of Yilmaz, Ecevit said that if Yilmaz's proposal was accepted, there would be confusion in the country and added that changing the date of the elections would bring drawbacks.
ERDOGAN'S RECORD OF CONVICTIONS CLEARED OFF
Directorate General of Judicial Records and Statistics cleared off record of convictions of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and banned Welfare Party (RP) leader Necmettin Erbakan. Erdogan and Erbakan can get clean record of conviction for being deputy candidates. However, Higher Election Board (YSK) will decide on whether Erdogan and Erbakan to be deputy candidates or not.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
LEADERS MAKE SUPRISES
Political parties submitted the list of their deputy candidates to Higher Election Board on Wednesday. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem became candidates from Istanbul. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli became deputy candidate from Osmaniye, Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz became candidate from Rize, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller became candidate from Mugla, Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan became candidate from Malatya and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal became deputy candidate from Antalya.
FIRE BREAKS OUT IN FINANCE MINISTRY BUILDING
Fire broke out on the roof of the Finance Ministry building on Wednesday. Fire started during repair of roof of Block C of the Finance Ministry building. The building was evacuated due to the fire. Finance Minister Sumer Oral said that the fire in the Finance Ministry building did not damage even a single document. Oral told reporters that the fire broke out due to a material used for the repair of the insulation system. ''The fire broke out only on the roof. Nothing is kept on the roof. So, the fire does not damage even a single document,'' Oral said. Fire Brigade Director Mehmet Erdem said that the fire was taken under control.