ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 16, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WAS SECRET MESSAGE ABOUT EXILE?
Russian news agency TASS claimed last week that Turkey sent a message to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein asking him to withdraw, however the Prime Ministry denied the news that day. The secret of the message which Prime Minister Abdullah Gul sent to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein by State Minister Kursat Tuzmen started to become clear. The solution on which Turkey works is probably the alternative of sending Iraqi leader Saddam to voluntary exile.

SUPPORT TO DENKTAS
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc extended supported to TRNC President Rauf Denktas following the rally which was held on Tuesday. Arýnc gave the message yesterday that ''governments can be criticized, they can even be invited to resignation. However, it is necessary to be in solidarity and Turkish Cypriots should extend support in order to strengthen the position of the side who carries out the negotiations. I feel regret about the banner during the rally which defined Turks as 'invaders'. If there are persons who want to use these rallies in order to weaken the position of the Turkish side, this means betrayal to Turkish Cypriots.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FROM ANKARA TO DENKTAS: ''DERIVE A CONCLUSION''
The Foreign Ministry said, ''one of those who have to derive a conclusion from the rally in Lefkosa is Mr. Rauf Denktas.'' Following the rally in Lefkosa, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc warned Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Denktas ''to take into consideration the streets'': ''One of those who have to derive a conclusion from democratic preferences that are being put forth is the negotiator Denktas.'' Turkey sent a covered warning to Turkish side by announcing that the duty to derive a conclusion from preferences of the people put forth in the rally held in TRNC the previous day belonged to TRNC authorities, particularly President Denktas.

GUL: ''U.S. ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO PLEASED WITH OUR CONTACTS IN MIDDLE EAST''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul told about his contacts with regional countries: ''These are not secret initiatives. I told in every capital I visited that the United States is our strategic partner. We are not trying to create a bloc besides Iraq against the United States or a bloc besides the United States against Iraq.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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UMIT INATCI APPOINTED AS CULTURE ATTACHE OF GREEK CYPRIOTS
Greek Cypriot side appointed Umit Inatcý, one of the strongest opposition figures of the Turkish Cypriots as the Culture Attache to London. Painter Inatcý has been the first Turkish Cypriot diplomat of the Greek Cypriot side. Inatcý writes as a columnist in Turkish Cypriot newspaper ''Afrika'' and he harshly criticizes the policies of TRNC President Rauf Denktas.

TUZMEN PRAISES SADDAM!
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen went too far while opposing a possible operation against Iraq and praised Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Tuzmen said that Saddam Hussein is a brave man.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TOBB ALSO TO WARN
During the economy summit expected to be held on Sunday by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), performance of the government and expectation of the real sector from the government will be taken up. TOBB, which is getting prepared to state that they are not pleased with the atmosphere in the last two months, notes that the priority of the government should be economy.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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UNITED STATES APPLIES TO NATO: ''LET'S PROTECT TURKEY FROM IRAQ''
The United States requested support of NATO for a war against Iraq. The United States has six demands from NATO, including military measures for protection of Turkey against missile or air attacks of Iraq.

THERE IS NOTHING ''NEW'' IN CYPRUS
Foreign Ministry said, ''rally is the democratic announcement of preferences. Negotiations should continue but there is nothing new.'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Yusuf Buluc, who caused discussion with his words on a renewal in Cyprus policy, said that ''there was not any change in policy.''

ERDOGAN BREAKS RECORD
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who climbed till 900 metres of the Great Wall of China, became the ''first Turkish official who climbed till that point.'' Iraqi issue also hit Erdogan's contacts on Wednesday. Erdogan said, ''we are still paying the costs of the Gulf War. Peace is the main thing. We will wait for the last United Nations (U.N.) resolution.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''SITE-SURVEY'' STARTS
A U.S. inspection team comprised of 150 people who came to Turkey to use air bases and ports in a possible war started their site-surveys yesterday. A part of the team inspected Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Corlu Military Airport while the other part visited Mersin Tasucu Port. The team took many photographs. A group of the team will inspect airports in Diyarbakir, Batman, Malatya, Mardin, Mus, Corlu, Afyon, Gaziantep Oguzeli together with Turkish officers. Meanwhile, Ankara withdrew from opening Malatya Erhac Air Base to the United States.

PLAN TO CHANGE
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, who met with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in the island after a three and a half months of interval, said, ''we came together to make changes in Annan's plan.'' Noting that they were good willed, Denktas said, ''if it is possible to give, we will give it, but otherwise, we cannot. We hope we can reach somewhere.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''GOD, PROTECT THE COUNTRY FROM WAR''
Istanbul mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna hosted a breakfast in honour of leaders of religious communities yesterday. Religious leaders said that they didn't want a war in Iraq and they wished the problem to be sorted out peacefully. ''God, save Turkey and the whole world from war,'' was the message of the religious leaders. Istanbul mayor Gurtuna said that all religions should be on the same side and all the fights and clashes in the world have to be ended.

U.S. ASKS NATO TO PROTECT TURKEY
U.S. officially demanded NATO to extend support to Turkey in order to protect the latter from a possible attack from Iraq in case of an operation against Iraq. A NATO official said that U.S. submitted a proposal including six demands from NATO. NATO sources said that U.S. also asked NATO to take military measures for Turkey to protect the latter from missile or air attacks of Iraq in case of an operation. No decision has been yet taken about these demands of the U.S.