ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 10, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
TURKISH MAJOR GETS ANGRY DUE TO U.S. SOLDIERS
U.S. soldiers who came to Iskenderun to renovate bases and ports walked around with their weapons and tried to leave the port without permission. Attitudes of soldiers caused tension in the port. A Turkish major who got angry due to attitude of U.S. soldiers, confiscated weapons of soldiers and delivered weapons to officials. Turkish major warned first the U.S. soldiers by saying that ''you cannot walk around this region with your weapons. It is against agreement principles regarding modernization.'' But some U.S. soldiers continued to walk around with their weapons. After that, major warned them for the second time. Meanwhile, a group of U.S. soldiers who wanted to leave the port without permission escalated tension in the port. Later, Turkish major confiscated weapons.

A TOTAL OF 197 PEOPLE CAPTURED IN BOAT
A boat sailing in the Mediterranean Sea and carrying 197 people who wanted to go to Italy through illegal ways was about to capsize due to bad weather conditions off shore Gazipasa township of southern province of Antalya. Those people including 16 women and 25 children from provinces in eastern and southeastern regions of the country were rescued and sent to places where they live.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ERDOGAN REACHES HIS GOAL
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) won the by-election in Siirt on by getting 84.75 percent of the votes. According to results of the by-election, AK Party candidates Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Oner Gulyesil and Oner Ergenc were elected, and the number of AK Party seats at the parliament increased to 365. Results of the by-election have paved the way for Erdogan to become prime minister. Erdogan is expected to take over the position of prime ministry in the coming days. Erdogan plans to decrease number of ministers from 25 to 21.

DENKTAS IN THE HAGUE
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) left for The Hague to meet with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos. Prior to his departure for The Hague, President Denktas said, ''there are some important parts in the plan of United Nations Secretary General Annan, which should be changed. Some parts of the agreements, which were signed by the sides in the island with other countries, also concern Turkey. The Cyprus question has been tried to be resolved in a hurry under the schedule of the European Union (EU). This hurry cannot be accepted. During the meetings in The Hague, we will explain the changes we want to be made in the plan. If these changes are not made, we will not accept the plan.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
BARZANI BECOMES A FRIEND OF TURKEY
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, who said earlier that they would fight against the Turkish soldiers, has become a friend of Turkey suddenly. Armored vehicles and tanks of the Second Army crossed the border and entered the region controlled by Barzani. Barzani ordered his peshmerga fighters to guard the tanks. A few days ago, Kurds had set Turkish flags on fire during anti-Turkey demonstrations.

ERDOGAN MEETS WITH PEARSON
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson. During the meeting, Pearson said that the United States wanted Turkey to approve the motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey till March 17. Erdogan told Pearson, ''do not put pressure on us.''

ARINC GUIDES, CHP TAKES ACTION
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said, ''I have serious concerns that the authority of the first Prime Ministry motion was exceeded.'' Upon statement of Arinc, the Republican People's Party (CHP) decided to submit an interrogation motion to the parliament about military dispatch of the United States later on Monday.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
SECRETS OF MEMORANDUM
Main logistic base of the northern front of a possible U.S.led military action against Iraq will be set up in the area among Mardin, Kiziltepe, Nusaybin and Oyali. The United States will be allowed to make any kind of construction in the area with the condition of approval of local residents. These constructions will be limited with hangar, depot and shelter. 600 technical and 200 military personnel of the United States will work in establishment of the base.

''THE HAGUE IS NOT THE LAST STOP''
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will meet with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos in The Hague later today. During the meetings, President Denktas will explain the changes he want to be made in the third plan of United Nations Secretary General Annan.

AN EARTHQUAKE RECORDED IN SEA OF MARMARA
An earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale was recorded in the Sea of Marmara at 00.35 p.m. on Sunday. Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said that the earthquake was recorded off Marmara Island.

SECURITY FORCES IMPOUND 77 KG OF HEROIN
Security forces impounded 77 kg of heroin in an operation in Silivri town of Istanbul. During the operation, nine people were detained. The detainees said during their interrogation that they planned to market the drug in the Netherlands. They were transferred to the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor's Office.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
ERDOGAN: ''ANNAN DECEIVED US''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan did not keep his promises. ''Annan told us that some changes would be made in the third plan on the issues of map, sovereignty and immigrants. However, none of these changes were included in the third plan. In order to reach a solution in the island, both sides should make concessions. We cannot accept current form the plan,'' he stressed.

SAHIN: ''NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE FORMED QUICKLY''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said, ''the Higher Electoral Board (YSK) is expected to announce officials results of the by-election in Siirt till Wednesday. After Erdogan is sworn in as deputy, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will resign from his post. Then, the new government can be formed quickly.

EXPORTS FROM TURKEY TO EU COUNTRIES AND UNITED STATES INCREASE
Exports from Turkey to member countries to the European Union (EU) increased 38 percent to 3.4 billion U.S. dollars in the first two months of 2003. During January-February period of the year, exports to Germany increased 30.3 percent to 1 billion 69 million U.S. dollars and exports to France rose 31 percent to 376 million U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, exports to the United States rose by 29.4 percent to 590 million U.S. dollars.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
ERDOGAN TO DEAL WITH MANY PROBLEMS
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan won by-election in Siirt on Sunday. The 59th government which is expected to be formed under the leadership of Erdogan will focus on developments regarding Iraq. The new government will be facing with an economic plan which will be affected by a possible war. The 59th government will deal with reaching target of 20 percent inflation rate and new agreements which will be made with International Monetary Fund (IMF). Another issue which Erdogan has to solve is Cyprus issue.

AK PARTY WINS ELECTION IN SIIRT
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) won the by-election in Siirt on Sunday. According to results, AK Party candidates Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Oner Gulyesil and Oner Ergenc were elected, and the number of AK Party seats in the parliament increases to 365.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
PEARSON WANTS SECOND MOTION TO BE PASSED FROM PARLIAMENT IN 10 DAYS
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan received on Sunday U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson. Pearson wanted the second motion to be passed from the parliament within 10 days at the meeting. Erdogan said, ''there should not be pressure on us regarding time. We will do what is necessary.'' After the meeting, Pearson said Erdogan and he had talked about all issues in detail. State Minister Ali Babacan and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis were also in attendance at the meeting, which lasted for about 3.5 hours.

(UK-EÖ-AÖ) 10.03.2003