Turkish news agency Anatolia reports that Turkey's parliament on Thursday authorized military action against Syria following deadly cross-border fire that sent tensions soaring but insisted it was not a war mandate. The vote came as Turkey retaliated for the shelling that killed five Turkish nationals, and Syria apologized and vowed it would not happen again. Anatolia said that the authorization will expire in one year. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said the parliament's go-ahead for military action only means that the military can use the mandate if it becomes necessary. … [Read more...] about Turkish parliament approves possible troop deployment in Syria
Turkish news agency
Striking workers face off with police in Turkish capital
Turkish riot police backed by water cannon faced off with around 1,000 trade union workers in the capital Ankara on Monday, after a weekend of some of the worst clashes since anti-government protests erupted late last month. "Those of you on the streets must stop blocking the streets. Do not be provoked. The police will use force," they shouted, as several water cannon were positioned a few hundred meters away. Further marches by striking workers were planned in Istanbul on Monday, despite government warnings that demonstrations would not be tolerated. "There is an attempt to bring people to the streets through strikes and work stoppages. These will not be allowed," Interior Minister Muammer Guler told reporters. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to restore calm after weekend unrest during which police fired teargas and water cannon to clear thousands of protesters from around Taksim Square in Istanbul, the focal point of the demonstrations. Police detained 441 … [Read more...] about Striking workers face off with police in Turkish capital
Turkish soldiers freed after diplomatic push
Kurdish rebels on Sunday freed eight Turkish soldiers captured in an ambush last month in northern Iraq, a move which could ease public pressure on Turkey's government to launch a major cross-border incursion. The release of the soldiers came a day after the Iraqi government vowed to hunt down Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants responsible for raids into Turkey. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) gestures while Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan listens during a joint news conference in Ankara November 2 … [Read more...] about Turkish soldiers freed after diplomatic push
Turkish family mourns third child dead from bird flu
A third child from the same family in eastern Turkey died of bird flu on Friday as the virus which has killed 74 people in China and Southeast Asia reached the threshold of Europe. And doctors said more than 20 other people, mostly children, were also being treated for suspected bird flu in the hospital where the children died. An unidentifed relative of the Kocyigit family, who lost three out of four children to bird flu (Source: AP) … [Read more...] about Turkish family mourns third child dead from bird flu
Human bird flu cases reach Turkish capital
Three Turks tested positive for a deadly strain of bird flu in the capital Ankara Sunday, a new stage in the westward sweep of the disease from its east Asian origins toward major economic centers in Turkey and Europe. The first case of the virus jumping from birds to humans outside China and southeast Asia occurred last week in rural eastern Turkey, where three children from the same family died after contracting the highly potent H5N1 strain. A man spreads lime over the coffin of 14-year-old Turkish boy Mehmet Ali Kocyigit during his burial in the eastern town of Dogubeyazit in Turkey January 4, 2006 … [Read more...] about Human bird flu cases reach Turkish capital