TURKEY-PRESS SCAN (1)

ANKARA (A.A) - 26.03.2011 - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 26, 2011. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
--------
IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROPRIATE
Deputy Prime MinisOver 10,000 people die in quake and tsunami in Japanter Bulent Arinc commented on the raids made to collect the unpublished book of journalist Ahmet Sik (named The Army of the Imam) as saying, "it has not been appropriate." Arinc said the raid of police was in line with the constitution and therefore was a judicial practice. Arinc said, "it is not appropriate, and I would like to say that I have been concerned that such an action has been taken about a journalist regarding a book."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "I think it will be more appropriate to ask ourselves what has been happening in this country." 

IDO'S FERRY TO BECOME A FLOATING HOSPITAL
Turkey will convert a ferryboat that belongs to Istanbul Maritime Bus Management (IDO) into a floating hospital, and send it to Libya. The ferryboat will treat almost 450 people injured in the ongoing operation on Libya. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said, "the ferryboats will be loaded with ambulances and medical staff. Turkey is the only country that is in contact with both parties in this ongoing situation. We are extending humanitarian assistance. We have reached an agreement, and we will bring the injured to Turkey."

MILLIYET
--------
NATO COMMAND OF LIBYA ACTION LEAVES LESSER ROLE FOR FRANCE, TURKISH PREMER SAYS
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said with NATO taking the command of the international military action on Libya, France had seen its role dwindling. "This is a very positive development," Erdogan said. The Turkish premier also said NATO's base in the western province of Izmir would not be used as a launch pad for fighter jets hitting targets in Libya.

FORMER SPECIAL OPS MEMBER UNDER CUSTODY
Ayhan Carkin, a former member of the now-defunct Special Forces and a convict in the Susurluk case, was taken under custody after he revealed that he and his colleagues had committed summary executions while fighting against terrorism. Family members of 62 people in special ops operations between 1991 and 1997 had filed petitions to an Istanbul prosecutor. Carkin is expected to give a testimony on Saturday.

SABAH
-----
HE BECOMES CANDIDATE MP
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited singer Ibrahim Tatlises who was wounded in the head in an armed attack, said, "I have got his application to run for the upcoming general elections." Erdogan visited Tatlises at the hospital where he was being treated, and the meeting lasted about 20 minutes. When leaving the hospital, Erdogan said, "I have seen him very well, and there are not any problems in his speech, and his memory is so good. He has nothing in his right side, but a little problem in his left. He will be taken out of the intensive care unit today, and physical therapy will give result as soon as possible."

TURKEY TO GO, ARMS TO BECOME SILENT
As NATO undertakes the command of the operation on Libya, bombardment will end. The discussion that has brought Turkey and France face-to-face with each other regarding flight ban, was solved as the authority was given to NATO. NATO will not stage an operation unless flight ban is violated. The NATO base in Turkey's Aegean province of Izmir will be the center of the air operation.