GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 10

HURRIYET

--THAT IS THE BITTER END!

Three policemen martyred and three terrorists were killed in an armed attack against United States Consulate in Istanbul. The fourth terrorist, who was in the white car with which the assailants came to the consulate, fled from the scene after seeing his three friends were shot.

Names of the three terrorists who were killed were disclosed as Raif Topcil, Erhan Kargin and Bulent Cinar.

--PKK ABDUCTS THREE GERMAN CLIMBERS

Five PKK terrorists abducted the of the 13-person German climbing team who were ascendng Agri Mountain. Terrorists said they did this because of the negative stance of Germany against PKK.

--SURPRISE LUNCH AT THE PALACE

President Abdullah Gul will have a lunch with former Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok. Ozkok earlier made statements to the reporters hinting that President Gul had to intervene about the recent developments.

MILLIYET

--RAID TO THE CASTLE

Terrorists who tried to raid the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, one of the best protected buildings in Turkey, with three pistols and one rifle, killed three young police officers, and later were killed at the scene of the attack.

Turkey was shaken yesterday, with the bloody shootout that occurred in front of the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. A Ford brand vehicle carrying four people came to the scene at around 10:20 in the morning. Three of the assailants got out of the car and fired at police officers standing sentry in the police point in front of the U.S. consulate. An armed clash erupted as the police officers in front of the Consulate entrance responded the fire. Traffic policeman, Osman Dagli who was some distance from the entrance also responded to the fire. Three police officers were martyred and three assailants who got out of the car were killed. According to witnesses, it was police officer Dagli who killed all three of the assailants.

Police officer Dagli and the driver of a police tow truck were wounded at the shootout which lasted three minutes. The stolen vehicle with which the fourth assailant escaped was found empty, Wednesday night. The police said they identified the runaway assailant and it was a matter of time before he would be caught.

--"DASTARDLY AND COWARDLY"

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson said Wednesday's armed attack was a terrorist attack carried out dastardly and cowardly. Answering a question, Ross Wilson said there was no information at hand, connecting the attack to operation Ergenkon.

SABAH

--AL QAEDA AFTER FIVE YEARS

Al Qaeda, who caused bloodshed in Istanbul in 2003, this time attacked the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul. Three terrorists were killed. Four al Qaeda member terrorists came to police box at the visa entrance gate of the U.S. Consulate at 10.30 a.m. by car.

Three terrorists, one of them with a beard, got out of the car opened gunfire on the police box. Three policemen were martyred in the shootout that lasted for eight minutes. Injured policeman Osman Dagli killed three terrorists.

Efforts are underway to capture the forth terrorists who fled after the attack.

--SURPRISE GUEST TO PRESIDENT PALACE

President Abdullah Gul will meet with former Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok today who earlier wanted Gul to intervene in the developments to ease the tension in Turkey.

VATAN

--ATTACK AGAINST U.S., SIX TURKS DIE

Three of the four Turkish al Qaeda terrorists, who attacked U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, were killed. Three policemen were martyred.

The 7-minute clash left two "sensitive" questions to be answered. The first was why the U.S. bodyguards did not help the policemen in the clash? According to officials, the bodyguards could not use their weapons outside the consulate under international law.

The second question was why they did not take the injured policeman inside the consulate. Governor's Office said the gates were automatically closed in the alarm.

--PKK KIDNAPPED THREE GERMAN TOURISTS

A 13-person German tourist group climbed Agri Mountain after being granted permission. Five PKK terrorists conducted a night raid on the camp at 3,200 meters and abducted three German tourists.

Lars Holger Renne (33), Martin George (49), and Helmut Johann (65) were the German tourists that were abducted. Terrorists said, "We will free them in a few days", while leaving the camp.

CUMHURIYET

--PKK RAIDS MOUNTAINEER CAMP

The terrorist organization, PKK raided the camp of a group of 13 German mountaineers who were climbing Mount Agri (Ararat) and kidnapped three of them. It is believed that the PKK may have done the kidnapping in retaliation to recent pressures on the terrorist organization in Germany.

--STRIKING MEETING

President Abdullah Gul will meet on Thursday, former General Staff Chief Ret. Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. It was Gul who made the invitation for the meeting last week. Ozkok's remarks following detention of retired generals, Sener Erygur and Hursit Tolon, have been appearing in the media for the past couple of days.

RADIKAL

--SUICIDE ATTACK TO AMERICAN CASTLE WITH PISTOLS

Turkey, which was locked on "operation Ergenekon", began Wednesday with the shock of a bloody shootout. Four people who came to the street --where one of the best protected buildings in Turkey-- U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located with a car around 10:20 (a.m.) and attacked the police with pistols and shotguns.

The street was pretty crowded due to visa applications and a nearby Koran course. Police Officers Nedim Calik, Mehmet Onder Sacmalioglu and Erdal Oztas were martyred, two others wounded, and three terrorists were killed. The fourth terrorist who drove the car escaped.

--U.S.: WE ARE GRATEFUL, COOPERATAION WILL CONTINUE

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson expressed his country’s gratitude to Turkish police for their efforts to guard and said, "Our two countries stand together in the fight against international terrorism."

Sean McCormack, spokesman of the U.S. State Department, said they appreciated Turkish policemen's courage to protect American diplomats. The EU also condemned the attack and expressed its condolences.

YENI SAFAK

--CRAVENS

Istanbul has again become the stage for a treacherous attack of al Qaeda after the Nov. 20, 2003.  Three Turkish policemen were martyred in the attack against the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. One of the four assailants opened fire on the police at the guard house at the security point.

The assailant took the weapon from the injured police officer and shot him twice in the head. A traffic police team that was near the scene of the attacked opened fire against the terrorists that were about to flee the scene. Three assailants were killed.

--TURKISH SECURITY TEAMS WARNED WILSON ABOUT THE ATTACK

Turkish security teams warned U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson that the attack could take place. It was said that a general security warning was made that an attack could take place against U.S. facilities in Turkey.

Security units did not describe the attack as "a surprise" and said they warned U.S. units.

--SUPRISE APPOINTMENT

President Abdullah Gul will meet with former Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok today. Ergenekon and coup allegations may take place at the appointment in Palace.