GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON AUGUST 5

HURRIYET

--HERE ARE NEW COMMANDERS

Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug has been appointed as the new Chief of General Staff. Gendarmerie 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 Gendarmerie 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 will arrive in Bodrum town of the western province of Mugla today. They will be welcomed by Turkish Premier Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine. Al-Asad recently visited Iran and extended support to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad's nuclear program. During the al-Asad-Erdogan meeting, Iran and regional issues will be discussed.

--EU OFFERS HELP

An 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 in its fifth day; the fire in the historical site Olympos is in its third day. The body of Osman Kahya (64), who was earlier reported missing, was found. More than 10 million trees in Antalya have been turned to ash. The cost of the fire has 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 the Intelligence Department, and the 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 evidence was submitted to the prosecutor's office regarding the eight individuals who are being held in connection with the attack.

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 generals and admirals.

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 the Ergenekon probe, was seen eating a sandwich at a cafe in London.

It could be understood from his behavior 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 rate. 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 a 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." The biggest fire of the last 30 years burned 5,000 hectares of fertile forest land.

CUMHURIYET

--LIFE BURNED DOWN IN ANTALYA

The fire that burned down more than 10,000 hectares of forested land in Serik town of the southern province of Antalya, still continues to rage in the Olimpos and Kepez regions. Fire broke out again in Cardak region on Monday. Teams have been 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 babies have 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 a 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.

Gendarmerie 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 Gendarmerie Commander.

--ANNUAL INFLATION IS 12.06 PERCENT

According to the 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. The 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 at 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 the 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 has been affecting Manavgat and Serik towns of the southern province of Antalya, is now in its fifth day. Besides the efforts of the teams on the land, six helicopters and six planes are trying to contain the fire that has burned 12,000 hectares of forest. The fire in Manavgat was brought under control, but the fire at the Olimpos historical site could not be contained due to strong winds.