GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON AUGUST 9

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on August 9, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. (UPDATED)

HURRIYET

-- THE MOST MAGNIFICENT OLYMPIC OPENING EVER

The 29th Olympic Games, which would see the largest participation ever in the history, was launched on Friday at a spectacular opening ceremony in China's capital Beijing. Four billion people around the world watched the Beijing event which kicked off the world's most expensive Olympic Games with a $43.3 billion investment. The ceremony lasted for about three and a half hours, featuring a magnificent show and fireworks.

-- WAR IN CAUCASUS

Georgia, which has been aiming to get closer to the West, launched early Friday a military operation against the autonomous region of South Ossetia, which has been struggling for independence since 1990s with support from Russia. Georgian forces entered South Ossetia's capital Tsinvali, destroying the city, and Russian forces responded by deploying tanks and armored military units. Clashes have quickly escalated. Russian aircraft attacked a Georgian military base in capital Tbilisi as Georgian military has said it had hit two Russian war planes. The UN and the European Union has called on both sides to cease fire and to find a peaceful settlement.

-- ERDOGAN SHOULD NOT PROVOKE SECULAR PEOPLE

British The Economist said that the Constitutional Court's stepping back from a threat to ban the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) removed a close political danger. The magazine also said however if Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan provoked the secularists, a bigger risk to the economy might be the government itself.

MILLIYET

-- HIGH COURT FINES PREMIER OVER CARGILL

Turkey's High Court of Appeals ruled to fine Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for not complying with a court order in the construction of a factory for the Cargill in Gemlik town. Despite the order by the high court to stop the construction works, Erdogan personally instructed that the works continue. The court said Erdogan, former minister Zeki Ergezen and Gemlik mayor Mehmet Turgut are responsible for not complying with the court order.

-- WAR ERUPTS IN CAUCASUS

Georgian military forces have launched an operation against South Ossetia and Russian forces intervened and responded by bombing Georgia from air. The region, which is of major importance to Turkey, is being dragged to turmoil. Georgian forces have besieged South Ossetia's capital Tshinvali where 1,500 civilians have been reported be killed.

SABAH

-- ERDOGAN: "WE HAVE 48 PERCENT OF VOTES"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after an attempt to ban the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) which was rejected by the Constitutional Court, the number of the Turkish people who supported his party has increased. Erdogan said his party had 48 percent of votes currently.

-- LAYOFF FROM TOYOTA

Toyota said it would slow down production in Turkey due to shrinkage in Europe. The company said it would also dismiss their temporary workers in Turkey.

VATAN

-- ERDOGAN URGES CEASE-FIRE

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a telephone conversation with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Erdogan told Saakashvili that Turkey has been monitoring with a great concern the clashes which killed many people and he hoped that there would be cease-fire (between Georgians and South Ossetians).

-- AKP HAS 41.9 PERCENT OF VOTES

A survey conducted by Metropoll said there has been a 1.5 percent increase in the votes of Justice and Development Party (AKP) and 0.8 percent rise in the votes of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) after the closure case against AKParty and the Ergenekon probe.

CUMHURIYET

-- DENIAL FROM GERMANY

A harsh reaction came from Germany to a draft law on protection of youths prepared by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy chairperson Edibe Sozen. Sozen said she was inspired by Germany in regard to the draft law which said that all schools including primary ones should have prayer rooms. Hakki Keskin, German parliamentarian of Turkish origin, said German schools did not have prayer rooms. Keskin said religious symbols were also banned in German schools.

RADIKAL

-- TURKISH GOVERNMENT PLANNING PARDON FOR DISCHARGED UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Turkey's education minister said that the government was planning to submit to the parliament a law that would allow former students who were discharged from universities to resume their higher education. "The law can be passed by October," Huseyin Celik said. The scope of the pardon isn't clear yet.

-- MAGIC OF BEIJING

The 29th Olympic Games were opened at an unprecedented ceremony on Friday in Beijing. The show at Beijing's Olympic stadium, the Bird Nest, fascinated billions of people around the world, performed by 14 thousand Chinese with fireworks and laser shows.

YENI SAFAK

-- TURKEY'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT UP 0.8 PERCENT

Turkish industrial production grew 0.8 percent in June 2008 over to the same month of 2007, Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) announced. Increase in industrial output in June 2007 had been 2.9 percent. Industrial production dropped 0.4 percent in manufacturing industry while it climbed 4.5 percent in power, gas and water industries and 20.3 percent in mining sector.

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