GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON AUGUST 24

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on August 24, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. (UPDATED)

HURRIYET

-- TURKISH CONTRACTORS MAKE $20 BILLION DEAL ABROAD

Turkish contractors have made business deals worth of $20 billion in the first half of 2008, reaching to their year-end business volume for 2007 in just six months this year. "Our target is to reach $28 billion and we have seen 20 billion of that just in the first half of the year," said Erdal Eren, head of a Turkish contractors' union.

-- POLICE ARREST SUSPECTS IN IZMIR BOMB ATTACK

Police arrested the suspects in a bomb attack which had injured 18 people last Thursday in the western port city of Izmir. Zeki Bulut and eight of his associates were detained in Diyarbakir and Izmir. Bulut was caught on a security camera at a gas station.


MILLIYET

-- GREEN REACTION TO ERDOGAN

Environmental organizations strongly reacted against the statements of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan about people who opposed a hydroelectric power plant project. Erdogan described those people as, "leisure environmentalists". The project envisages the establishment of nine separate hydroelectric power plants in Ikizdere Valley in Black Sea province of Rize.

-- IZMIR BOMBERS CAUGHT

Eight people were arrested in connection with the blast in Aegean province of Izmir where 18 people were injured. Zeki Bulut (22) was reported to be the terrorist who detonated the bomb.


SABAH

-- BOMBERS CAUGHT

Eight people were taken into custody on charges of organizing the bomb attack in Izmir that injured 18 people. Police arrested the eight people in separate operations in two provinces.

-- ERDOGAN: WE WILL NOT ALLOW VIOLATION OF MONTREUX

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan replied the discussions about the U.S. ship which was allowed to pass to Georgia through the strait. "Whatever necessary is done under the requirements of Montreux Convention," Erdogan said.

VATAN

-- POLICE DEFUSES BOMB IN ISTANBUL CEMETERY

Security forces defused an explosive device hidden in a water cooler in an Istanbul cemetery on Saturday. Police said the device was rigged to set off 2.5 kilograms of plastic explosive just behind a bus stop.

-- OSCAR-WINNING ACTRESS INVITED FOR TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL

Hollywood's Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron has been invited to the Antalya Film Festival, which is scheduled for Oct. 9-10. Sources said the beautiful actress had accepted the invitation. Antalya Film Festival is also set to host British actor Ben Kingsley this year.


CUMHURIYET

-- BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES ENDS

The 29th Summer Olympic Games held in Beijing, China will end today. A closing ceremony will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Turkey won eight medals in the Olympic Games. Turkey's Olympic national team won one gold, four silver and three bronze medals and ranked 36th on the medal table.

-- YALCINBAYIR: PRESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE IMMUNITY

Ertugrul Yalcinbayir, the former Secretary General of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), said there was no obstacle to try President Abdullah Gul. Yalcinbayir said prior to the presidential elections Gul told him that, "I will show that presidents can be tried in Turkey". Yalcinbayir said, "He will do what is necessary if a record is filed against him."


RADIKAL

-- IZMIR GOVERNOR: BOMBERS CAUGHT

Six people were arrested in simultaneous operations in Aegean province of Izmir and southeastern province of Diyarbakir. Zeki B. who was detained in Diyarbakir, was reported to have parked the car at the site, set up the bomb mechanism, and detonated the bomb. The blast took place when a minibus carrying police officers and a car belonging to the military were passing by in Konak. Sixteen people, including 7 police officers and 3 soldiers, were injured in the explosion.

-- 20 BILLION USD OBTAINED FROM CONSTRUCTION

Erdal Eren, head of a Turkish contractors' union, said Turkish contractors made business deals worth of $20 billion in foreign countries in the first half of 2008. He said tension between Russia and Georgia did not have an impact on the investments in the region.

YENI SAFAK

-- THEY COULD NOT ESCAPE

Eight people were detained in connection with the bomb which was detonated as a minibus carrying police officers was passing by. Sixteen people were injured. Police said three terrorists rented a car after the attack and escaped to Diyarbakir, noting that the terrorists were detained in Diyarbakir.

-- EU MEMBERSHIP ON AGENDA OF BUSINESS WORLD

Representatives of business world from now on focus on acceleration of Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, which was interrupted with the closure case opened against ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) Chairman Tanil Kucuk urged the government to initiate a new reform process and launch initiatives to implement "Program to Adjust with the EU Acquisitions".