ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 23, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY WILL TRANSIT TURKEY
According to war plan of the United States, U.S. soldiers will be brought to Turkey in the first days of the occupation and then be taken to Northern Iraq by helicopters. According to news of Los Angeles Times, bases in Turkey will be used as a transit passage area for American troops due to uneasiness of Turkish government.

DECISION SUMMIT IN PRIME MINISTRY
There will be an important meeting in Ankara regarding Iraq today. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and Undersecretary Uccan will attend the meeting.

HE IS GOING TO MEET WITH PUTIN
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to Russia for a two-day visit. Erdogan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND TO UNITED STATES
The government will respond to requests of the United States on Tuesday the latest. High-ranking military officials recommended the government to restrict its support with air services. At the end of the meeting between government officials and military officials, it was decided that Turkey would extend air support to the United States in a possible operation based on the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Therefore, Turkey will allow the United States to use its Batman, Diyarbakir, Mus and Malatya airports.

ELECTRICITY PRICES TO BE DECREASED
A report was prepared upon directives of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. According to the report, electricity prices can be reduced by 15-17 percent for industry. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler will submit the report to the Council of Ministers. The ministry aim at reducing the electricity prices for the industry.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ENTRANCE FACILITATION WITHOUT VISA TO BUSINESSMEN ON THE WAY
Bahadir Kaleagasi, the representative of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) in Brussels, said that state-run Tobacco and Liquor Administration (Tekel) had become a serious problem. Kaleagasi noted that as TUSIAD, they were informing European Union (EU) Commission about problems and complaints of Turkish companies. Kaleagasi said that the most important issue they were handling currently was recognition of right to free movement to businessmen. The EU Commission had been convinced about that issue, Kaleagasi said and added that they could record more progress.

COSKUN: ''PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW TO BE DISCUSSED ON WEDNESDAY''
Public Procurement Law will be debated in the Council of Ministers. Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun said that the law would be taken up in the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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WAR BARGAINING
Dissident groups aiming at overthrowing the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, came to Turkey one after the other. These consultations between Turkish officials and Iraqi dissidents coincided with the United States' move to accelerate preparations for a possible military operation against Iraq. After Iraqi National Congress (INC) leader Ahmet Celebi, two other leading opposition leaders Sharif Ali Bin Hussein and Ayad Allawi are expected to come to Turkey in the coming days.

SECRET POINTS IN ASSASSINATION
A neighbor of Associate Prof. Dr. Necip Hablemitoglu who was assassinated in armed attack last week, said, ''earlier in the day of the assassination, I collided with an automobile. A man carrying a transceiver, got out of the automobile and insulted me.'' Also, Sengul Hablemitoglu told security forces that she had seen some people listening to music in an automobile in front of their house.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TREE DIFFICULT EXAMINATIONS OF PARLIAMENT
Parliament will convene this week to respond to demands of the United States regarding Iraq, and to debate constitutional amendments vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Public Procurement Law is the other important item of agenda of parliament. The government can request authority from parliament to ''send troops abroad.'' Parliament will re-debate the constitutional amendment bill comprised of three articles which paved the way for Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's deputyship and which was vetoed by Sezer and send it back to Presidential Palace on Friday. Government will also clarify its decision about Public Procurement Law that will enter into force on January 1.

PRAISE FROM VERHEUGEN
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement, said that Turkey, which had taken surprising steps for adjustment, would be a very different country when it became an EU member.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''MINI STATE'' MODEL FOR ISTANBUL
Istanbul will be administered by one Greater Municipality Mayor given authorities like the ''prime minister'' and with two separate municipalities. In the local administrations bill of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the city will be separated into two main municipalities including Anatolian and European sides. A separate law will be passed peculiar to Istanbul. In the bill, it is also noted that all authorities except justice, defense, security and big projects will be transferred from central to local administrations.

SNOWFALL RETURNS
Turkey will be under the influence of a new rainy and cold weather coming from the Black Sea. Black Sea coasts will be rainy today. The west of the Black Sea will be snowy. Schools were closed in some cities for one day due to snowfall.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DEBATE MHP'S OBJECTION
The Constitutional Court will debate on December 26 the lawsuit filed by the Nationalist Movement Party for annulment of some arrangements approved under the package of European Union (EU) adjustment laws. Annulment of death sentence, permission given to foundations to obtain properties and education and broadcasting in Kurdish language are among these arrangements.

BRITISH COURT SENTENCES UZAN TO 15 MONTHS IN PRISON
The court in British capital London sentenced Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan and his sister Aysegul Akay to imprisonment. Uzan was sentenced to 15 months and his sister Akay was sentenced to 6 months in prison after they failed to appear in the court in a case filed against them by leading GSM operators Nokia and Motorola.