GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 22

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept. 22, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
-THEY TOOK THE MONEY, CONFISCATION TO EXPATRIATES
Germany will confiscate funds to recover the financial aid made to a building society on behalf 1,300 Turkish citizens living in this country. Zahid Akman, head of Turkey’s media watchdog, RTUK, whose name was involved to Deniz Feneri charity fraud case, had also earlier held a post in the administration of this society.

--ERUYGUR RELEASED
Retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, who has been suffering from cerebral hemorrhage since he fell down on Sept. 17 at the Kandira Prison where he was being kept for 2-1/2 months, was released due to health problems. Upon a report from Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine Hospital where Eruygur has been receiving treatment, the public prosecutors dealing with the case regarding "Operation Ergenekon" applied to a court on duty. The court decided yesterday that Eruygur shall be released.

--THERE WAS A CIA CAMP IN ISTANBUL IN 1979
According to a 2004 dated CIA report on the internet, al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden spoke about his "days in Istanbul" in an interview with Arabic daily "Cairo" issued in London in 1994. Bin Laden said in the interview that he was carrying out commercial activities in Istanbul when the Russians invaded Kabul in 1979. "When I was staying in Istanbul, Arab jihadists started to go to Afghanistan with the help of CIA, which set up a transit camp in Istanbul," Bin Laden also said.

MILLIYET
--FORMER GENERAL RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER SUFFERING CEREBRAL HEMORRAGE
An Istanbul court decided Sunday to release Sener Eruygur, former commander of the Gendarmerie Forces, from prison after he suffered brain hemorrhage and a neck fracture. Eruygur was awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a case publicly known as the Ergenekon, a criminal network with suspected ties to the military and bureaucracy. The former general was hospitalized after he fell down in the prison.

--THIRTEEN INFANTS DIE IN ONE DAY IN HOSPITAL
Thirteen newly-born babies died due to a suspected infection in less than twelve hours at a hospital in the western city of Izmir. A quick probe was launched to investigate after the infants died on Saturday. The infants were said to have been premature and immature.

SABAH
--RELEASED FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS
An Istanbul court decided to release from prison retired general Sener Eruygur, who fell down in prison and had a cerebral hemorrhage. Eruygur was under treatment at the Kocaeli Faculty of Medicine but under police surveillance. A neurologist from the Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) went to the hospital on behalf of the General Staff and examined Eruygur. The professor said that there was no need to transfer the retired general to GATA as what was being done in the hospital was right. His family will decide whether or not to continue Eruygur's treatment in Kocaeli.

--GUL'S INTERESTING ANSWER
When he was flying to the United States, journalists asked President Abdullah Gul if he would be in this office for seven or five years, and whether he was thinking of running for a second term if he stayed in office for five years. Gul said, "A law in line with the constitutional amendment will be passed for the presidential election. Whether it is one or two terms will be definite at that time."

VATAN
--RELEASED UNDER INTENSIVE CARE
Retired general Sener Eruygur, who had a cerebral hemorrhage after he fell down stairs at Kandira prison, was released from prison upon a demand by a prosecutor on Sunday. Eruygur, the chairman of the Kemalist Thought Association, was sent to prison 77 days ago within the scope of Ergenekon investigation. Eruygur is receiving treatment at the Kocaeli Faculty of Medicine hospital. During his interrogation, Eruygur demanded that he be tried without detention because of complicated health problems. However, his demand was rejected.

--PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CALLS ON RTUK CHAIRMAN TO RESIGN
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said, "Resigning does not mean accepting that s/he is guilty. It is his decision" when commenting on Zahid Akman, the chairman of Turkey's Supreme Board of Radio and Television. Toptan said, "He is the one who can well-evaluate the situation because he knows the dimensions of the claims." Toptan's calling on Akman to resign is meaningful because the parliament elects the members of RTUK among the candidates nominated by political parties.

CUMHURIYET
--FORMER GENERAL IN COMA RELEASED FROM PRISON
After being hospitalized due to brain hemorrhage and neck fracture, Sener Eruygur, former commander of the Gendarmerie Forces, was released from prison where he was awaiting trial under the Ergenekon case. Eruygur was hospitalized five days ago after he fell off in prison. Doctors said Eruygur was still in critical condition.

--THIRTEEN INFANT DEATHS IN ONE DAY
Twelve newly-born premature infants died in less than 12 hours at a hospital in the western city of Izmir on Saturday, which was followed by another infant death Sunday evening. The Health Ministry has launched a probe as a medical investigation was also underway.

RADIKAL
--RELEASE DECISION FOR ERUYGUR
Retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, who suffered from cerebral hemorrhage after he fell down at a high-security prison in northwestern province of Kocaeli, was released due to health problems. Eruygur was arrested within the scope of "Operation Ergenekon". Four lieutenants and a military student were detained within the framework of the operation as well. Six out of thirteen people that were sent to the courthouse, including Seyhan Soylu and Nurseli Idiz, were also released.

--RAIN UNTIL FRIDAY
Rainy weather is influential across Turkey. Heavy rains, which started in the Aegean and western Mediterranean regions, continued to Marmara. Experts say that rain will continue till Friday and temperatures will drop 2-4 degrees Celsius in central and western Anatolia.

YENI SAFAK
--RELEASED IN HIS SLEEP AFTER 78 DAYS
The 9th High Criminal Court of Istanbul decided that retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, who had a cerebral hemorrhage after he fell down at prison, shall be released. Eruygur was arrested under the "Operation Ergenekon" and sent to a high-security prison in the northwestern province of Kocaeli on July 6. Last Wednesday, Eruygur was hospitalized after fell down from the stairs due to high blood pressure.

The Public Prosecutor's Office that is dealing with the investigation regarding "Operation Ergenekon" applied to the high criminal court on duty and demanded Eruygur's release. Assessing such demand, the court decided that he shall be released.

--HOTELS EVACUATED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN
Turkey's Marmara, Black Sea, central Anatolia and Mediterranean regions are under the influence of rainy weather. Temperatures also dropped 2-4 degrees Celsius together with heavy rain. While heavy rainfall caused flood in several neighborhoods of Istanbul, some hotels in the Mediterranean province of Antalya were also evacuated due to floods.

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