GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON OCT 17

HURRIYET
--FIVE TURKISH TROOPS KILLED IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY
Four Turkish troops were killed on Thursday in southeast Turkey in a clash with terrorists and another was killed in a helicopter crash. Fifteen soldiers and a general was also wounded in the crash near Hakkari province. Five PKK terrorists were killed during operations near Semdinli town and Sirnak province.

--ERDOGAN EXTENDS SUPPORT TO MILITARY OVER DISCUSSIONS ON TERRORIST ATTACK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support on Thursday for Turkish chief of general staff who severely criticized a Turkish newspaper over discussions on a recent terrorist attack that killed 17 Turkish troops. "No one has the right to pull the military down. No one can encourage terror. We are on the right side and the rest is other's concern," Erdogan said.

MILLIYET
--BAD NEWS FROM HAKKARI
Four Turkish troops have been killed in clashes with a group of PKK terrorists in the southeastern province of Hakkari. Reinforcement troops were sent to the region by helicopters. One of the helicopters crashed due to a technical failure. A soldier died in the crash bringing the death toll to five. 15 military personnel including a general were slightly injured in the crash.

--ERDOGAN SPEAKS LIKE BASBUG
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the media of making propaganda of the terrorist organization while he was extending support to General Staff Chief Gen. Ilker Basbug. "Everyone including the press should act carefully," he warned by raising his voice just like Gen. Basbug did a day earlier.

--PRICE OF ONE USD EXCEEDS 1.5 YTL
Shares in the the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) has lost 8 percent in value after the dramatic drops in Asian markets. Price of one USD exceeded 1.5 YTL and closed at 1.54 YTL while price of one euro increased up to 2.00 YTL.

SABAH
--CIVILIAN SUPPORT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support to Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug who made a harsh response to criticisms in the media regarding terrorist attack on Aktutun military outpost. Erdogan said Turkish security forces heroically fought against terrorism and they had to right to defense themselves against criticisms. Premier Erdogan also underlined the importance of a cooperative fight against terrorism.

--COMMANDER WOUNDED
Turkey was again saddened by bad news from the southeastern province of Hakkari. The previous day, five soldiers died and 15 security officers were wounded in an operation. Gen. O. Faruk Kucuk wanted to follow terrorists who martyred those soldiers in Hakkari. Gen. Kucuk was injured when the helicopter carrying him and soldiers crashed.

VATAN
--FIVE MARTYRS IN HAKKARI
Four soldiers have been killed in clashes with PKK terrorists and one soldier lost his life when a helicopter crashed in the southeastern province of Hakkari. Fifteen soldiers, including a general, were injured in the crash.

--IMPORTANT DAY AT UNITED NATIONS
The Security Council, the highest decision-making organ of the United Nations, will convene to hold a vote for its new members. Turkey will compete with Iceland and Austria. The country which receives 128 out of 192 voting countries will be a non-permanent member of the council until 2010.

--SHARP INCREASE IN PRICE OF ONE USD
As an impact of the global crisis, Turkey's main shares index has lost 6.26 percent in value and dropped by 1,843 points to the levels of August 2005. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) closed at 27,600.71 points, marking a 9.61 percent loss over the last two days. The price of a dollar versus lira the exceeded 1.50 YTL. Intense demand from foreigners caused the sharp increase in price in the dollar against the lira.

CUMHURIYET
--SUPPORT TO BASBUG
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on the harsh response made by Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug against criticisms in the media. Erdogan said the media had the right to criticize, but also, there was the right to reply to criticisms. Erdogan said no one had the right to encourage terrorism. "There are moral rules the independent media must abide by," he stated.

--KARAYALCIN: "WE HAVE TO SAVE THE CAPITAL"
After being chosen by the Republican People's Party (CHP) as the party's candidate for mayor of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in local elections next year, Social Democratic People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin said a new era has begun. Karayalcin said he got positive reactions from the centre-right and he would also have a meeting Democratic Left Party (DSP) chairman Zeki Sezer.

RADIKAL
--TURKISH STOCK EXCHANGE HITS THREE-YEAR LOW
Fears of global stagnation continued to shake down world markets on Thursday, including Turkey's main shares index. The Istanbul Stock Exchange dropped to June 2005 levels with a 1,843 points loss falling to 27,600. The Turkish currency weakened against the dollar at 1.4850. Economic analysts say the Turkish Central Bank needs to reduce interest rates by one point.

--TURKISH PARLIAMENT MOVES AGAINST TORTURE
Turkish parliament has moved to take bold measures after a Turkish man was tortured to death in prison. Parliament's human rights committee agreed to investigate all future allegations in prisons and police stations. Also two sub-committees have been established to deal with child abuse and the problems of illegal immigrants.

YENI SAFAK
--HEINOUS AMBUSH
Four troops have been killed in an ambush in the southeastern province of Hakkari. A number of terrorists were killed in the clashes. Meanwhile, a helicopter carrying reinforcement units to the region crashed due to a technical failure, killing a soldier and bringing the death toll to five. Fifteen soldiers, including a general, were injured in the crash.

--CRISIS OUT OF CONTROL
Despite the major bail-out packages, totaling $4 trillion, by the United States and the EU and the worldwide reduction in interests rates, stock exchanges have fallen sharply around the world. Turkey's main shares index also lost nearly 7 percent in value and dropped by 1,843 points, falling to the levels of June 2005. The lira reached 1.50 YTL against the dollar, while the euro exceeded 2 YTL. Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz said the financial crisis affected the whole world, adding, "We are not weak like we were during the 2001 crisis. A rescue package is not required for the time being."