GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON AUGUST 5

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on August 5, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET

--HERE ARE NEW COMMANDERS

Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug has been appointed as the new Chief of General Staff. Gendarmery Commander General Isik Kosaner will be the new Land Forces Commander, while Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Gen. Avni Atila Isik will be the new Gendarmery Commander. Admiral Metin Atac will continue to serve as the Commander of Naval Forces and Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu will continue to serve as Air Forces for one year.

--SURPRISING MEETING IN BODRUM

Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and his wife Esma al-Asad will arrive in Bodrum town of the western province of Mugla today. They will be welcomed by Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan. Al-Asad recently visited Iran and he extended support to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad's nuclear program. During al-Asad-Erdogan meeting, Iran and regional issues will be discussed.

--EU OFFERS HELP

EU Commission spokesman said that if Turkey wanted, the Commission could have member countries help Turkey in its efforts to contain the forest fire in the southern province of Antalya. The fire in Manavgat and Serik towns of Antalya is on its fifth day; the fire in historical site Olympos is on its third day. The body of Osman Kahya (64), who was earlier reported missing, was found. More than 10 million trees in Antalya turned into ashes. The cost of the fire exceeded 1 billion YTL ($870 million).

MILLIYET

--BIG QUESTION

Adil Serdar Sacan, former Chief of the Counter Organized Crimes Department, said he had got permission from the then State Security Court (DGM) chief prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin to carry out an investigation into a retired vice general, Veli Kucuk, in 2001. A prosecutor was assigned, however, the file was closed after it was sent to Intelligence Department, and Ergenekon continued to progress.

--SECOND BOMBER MISSING

Huseyin Tureli, the person who planted the first bomb that exploded in Gungoren district of Istanbul, was arrested, however, another person who planted the second bomb is still at large.

Police said very clear evidences were submitted to prosecutor's office regarding the eight individuals who are under arrest.

SABAH

--NO EXPULSION OR ANNOTATION

No officer or a non-commissioned officer was expelled from army this time since 1996 at a Supreme Military Board meeting. 32 generals and admirals were promoted to a higher rank and 46 colonels were appointed as general and admiral.

Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug has been appointed as the new Chief of General Staff to replace Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit who will retire on August 30.

--COMEZ AT A CAFE IN LONDON

Former parliamentarian Turhan Comez, who is wanted with a red bulletin within the scope of Ergenekon probe, was seen eating a sandwich at a cafe in London.

It could be understood from his gesture that he felt uncomfortable.

VATAN

--12 PERCENT INFLATION RATE IS HIGHEST OF LAST 4.5 YEARS

The price increase of 21 percent in electricity hit the inflation rates. Producer prices reached 18.41 percent on annual basis, and have become the highest figure of the last 4.5 years. The annual increase in consumer prices is 12.06 percent. The inflation rate is expected to rise in August due to price increase in natural gas.

--FIRE ENCIRCLED ON ITS FIFTH DAY

The fire, which spread over 12,000 hectares of a land between Manavgat and Serik towns of the southern province of Antalya, was contained on its fifth day. The Forestry Directorate General said, "so far the fire has always driven us away all before. For the first time, we are driving the fire back. We almost encircle the fire." In the biggest fire of the last 30 years, 5,000 hectares of fertile forested land burned down.

CUMHURIYET

--LIFE BURNED DOWN IN ANTALYA

Fire that burned down more than 10,000 hectares of forested land in Serik town of the southern province of Antalya, still continues in Olimpos and Kepez regions. Fire broke out again in Cardak region on Monday. People mobilized to put out the forest fires in Antalya.

Antalya Governor Alaattin Yuksel said the fires could be taken under control totally today.

--TWO MORE BABIES DIE IN HOSPITAL

Head physician of a hospital in Ankara where the babies died one after the other said a hospital infection could not be in question.

Health and Social Laborers' Union (SES) said there were three separate infections even if it was not hospital infection, and bacterium could be seen in baby food.

RADIKAL

--HERE ARE NEW COMMANDERS

No expulsion decision was made by the Supreme Military Board this year. Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug has been appointed as the new Chief of General Staff replacing Gen. Yasar Buyukanit.

Gendarmery Commander General Isik Kosaner will be the new Land Forces Commander, while Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Gen. Avni Atila Isik will be the new Gendarmery Commander.

--ANNUAL INFLATION IS 12.06 PERCENT

According to Turkish Board of Statistics, the inflation rates are over the expectations. Consumer prices rose 0.58 percent, and producer prices climbed 1.25 percent in July, 2008. Annual inflation rate as of July was 12.06 percent in consumer prices, and 18.41 percent in producer prices.

Thus, the annual inflation was on the highest level in consumer prices since February, 2004.

YENI SAFAK

--THERE IS NO SURPRISE EXPULSION BY SUPREME MILITARY BOARD

Following the approval by President Abdullah Gul, the decisions of Supreme Military Board (YAS) were made public. Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug has been appointed as the new Chief of General Staff. YAS did not expel any officer from the army.

--BLAZES COVER OLIMPOS

The forest fire, which have been affecting Manavgat and Serik towns of the southern province of Antalya, is now on its fifth day. Besides the efforts of the teams on the land, six helicopters and six planes are trying to contain the fire which burned down 12,000 hectares of area. The fire in Manavgat was blocked, but the fire in Olimpos historical site could not be stopped due to strong winds.

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