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

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BOMB WARNING IN THY PLANE
THY RJ-100 passenger plane en route from Mardin to Istanbul landed at Erhac Airport due to bomb warning.
Bomb experts examined the plane but could not find any bomb.
The plane later departed from the port.

ERDOGAN TO SET UP NEW TEAM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan started to set up his team. Erdogan assigned Hikmet Bulduk in office of Prime Ministry Chief Adviser. Erdogan will also assign Ender Arat, one of his consultants in the party, as foreign policy consultant in prime ministry. Arat earlier worked in Turkish Embassy in Budapest.
Prime Ministry Undersecretary Fikret Uccan will also be taken from the post. Uccan is expected to be appointed abroad as ambassador in line with the request of Erdogan.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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NOW KURD CARD
U.S. President George W. Bush warned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his congratulatory message: If you enter Northern Iraq on your own, I fear that clash will erupt between Turkish and U.S. soldiers. Washington is playing the ''Kurd card'' against Ankara for adoption of a second motion. Possibility of playing this card was mentioned in the ''congratulatory'' letter that Bush sent to Erdogan, that is in the highest level. In his letter, Bush said, ''if you behave in Northern Iraq on your own, this will negatively affect our plans and practices. In such a case, I fear that Turkish and U.S. soldiers can have clashes. This will not bear a good result for the two ally countries.'' U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney gave the same message during his phone conversation with Erdogan. Erdogan is getting prepared to play the Turkmen card. If Turkmens are accepted as a real element in Iraq after war, steps expected by the United States can be taken.

LABOR SECURITY IS BEING POSTPONED
Recep Tayyip Erdogan firstly signed the postponement of Labor Security Law, which entered into force yesterday, as the Prime Minister. The law which makes termination of labor contract more difficult, will enter into force on the same day with the Labor Law.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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KHALILZAD SAYS ANKARA SUMMIT WILL BE HELD
U.S. administration's adviser for Northern Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said that they were exerting great efforts to change Saddam regime. Khalilzad stressed that his contacts were an important part of those efforts. Khalilzad held contacts in the Foreign Ministry for preparations for the meeting of Iraqi opposition groups to be held in Ankara in the following week. Khalilzad said that all opposition groups would attend the Ankara Summit and added that they would hold a meeting in the Foreign Ministry the following day.

IS THERE ANY U.S. SOLDIER HERE?
Two thousand people who are members of ''Coordination of No to War in Iraq'' held a demonstration in International Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul. Five members of the group entered the airport and searched whether or not there were any U.S. soldiers.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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LET US NOT BE NEIGHBOR KILLER
The ''Let Silk Road Be Road of Peace'' march which started from southeastern Diyarbakir province ended in Iskenderun yesterday. Almost eight thousand people protested the U.S. officials by applause and whistles. Pacifists protested a possible war against Iraq in northern Zonguldak province.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE DELAY FOR MOTION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is delaying the vote of confidence schedule to postpone the motion. The program of the government will be read out on March 18. According to the schedule, the vote of confidence can be held in the following weekend.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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OFFICIAL ASSURANCE: ''WE SHARE YOUR CONCERNS''
The United States officials stated that it shared Turkey's red lines. U.S. President George W. Bush's adviser Zalmay Khalilzad gave friendship message to Ankara but his words in the U.S. are different: ''Turks should not enter Northern Iraq on their own.''

ISKENDERUN NOT SUFFICIENT FOR GUESTS
As Iskenderun Port was not sufficient for military equipment and vehicles which had been sent to the port, the U.S. officials wanted to rent the land belonging to Oil Pipeline Inc. (BOTAS) beside the port. When their demand was rejected, U.S. officials started to put the equipment on each other. The U.S. personnel set out for the first time by Hummers while there was a contradiction between the number of vehicles which had been announced to leave the port and the number of those that left the port.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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LABOR SECURITY DELAYED FOR THREE MONTHS
Labor Security Law, which makes dismissal of workers more difficult, was delayed for three months. According to the proposal which was accepted in Parliamentary Labor and Social Affairs Commission, the law will be implemented after June 30.

''WE WILL OVERCOME THE CRITICAL DAYS IN THE VERY BEST WAY''
Yasar Yakis, who could not keep his post in the new post, handed over the mission to former Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Gul, who gave his first message in hand over ceremony, pointed out that they would continue to work to make Turkey get rid of the critical period in the very best way. Gul said, ''we will continue to do what are required by Turkey's interests.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES INSISTENCE ON NORTHERN FRONT
As U.S. President George Bush meets with his allies in historic Azor summit, which may light the fuse of Iraq war, the U.S. administration clearly stated that it did not give up Turkey for the northern front.
Bush's special representative Zalmay Khalilzad continues contacts to convince Turkey, and U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Bourcher said they still preserved the hope of northern front from Turkey. The Spokesman said their expectation to fulfill ''all the demands'' continued. The Spokesman also made the warning that time was about to end.

ERDOGAN: ''NO ALLOWANCE TO TENSION''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan took over mission of prime ministry from Abdullah Gul. Erdogan gave the message of unity and compromise. Erdogan said they would not allow discrimination and tension, stating that those who were after vicious tension would be left alone.

(AY-BRC) 16.03.2003