GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 30

HURRIYET

--MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER TAKES REFUGE IN TURKISH EMBASSY AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SODOMY

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has taken refuge in the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur after being accused of sodomy with a male aide, saying that he feared for his life. Ibrahim was tried for similar accusations ten year years ago but was exonerated. Ibrahim's wife, Aziza Ismail, accused the government party of conspiracy.

--ELEVEN RENAL TRANSPLANTS IN THREE DAYS
An organ transplantation research center at Turkey's Antalya University performed eleven kidney transplants from live donors in the last three days. The center's chief surgeon, Prof. Alper Demirbas, said they had performed 202 renal transplants and 20 liver transplants so far in 2008.

MILLIYET

--WHAT DOES TURKISH SOCIETY THINK ABOUT TRIAL PROCESS?

According to a public survey carried out by A&G company, 53.3 percent of the Turkish people advocates that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) should not be outlawed by the Constitutional Court. Those who defended that the political party should be closed down are generally educated people.

The survey also showed that 30.3 percent of Turkish people would vote for the ruling AKP in general elections while 12.7 percent would vote for the Republican People's Party (CHP) and 11.7 percent for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

--BAYKAL NOT TO GO TO ATHENS

Turkey's main opposition party CHP leader Deniz Baykal has decided not to attend a Socialist International (SI) general assembly meeting in the Greek capital city of Athens. CHP executives sent a message to SI president George Papandreou after getting information that some member-countries were planning to launch initiatives against the CHP. Since Papandreou did not send a satisfactory response, CHP decided not to attend the SI general assembly meetings.

SABAH

--AFTER ACCUSATIONS HE TOOK REFUGE IN TURKISH EMBASSY

Malaysian opposition leader Enver Ibrahim took refuge in the Turkish Embassy in Malaysia, after his male assistant accused Ibrahim of raping him.

Ibrahim's wife said it was a plot by the government and showed the photo of the plaintiff and Deputy PM as evidence. Ibrahim had served in prison for years in the past for a similar crime. About 100 of Ibrahim's supporters are on watch outside the Turkish Embassy.

--OPPOSITION LEADER NOT TO ATTEND SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL

CHP leader Deniz Baykal, hesitated attending the Socialist International's meeting fearing a motion for expulsion of his party from the organization, decided not to attend the meeting when the guarantee he sought from the Socialist International's Chairman George Papandreou was not given.

VATAN

--GET READY FOR ISTANBUL QUAKE

Ross Stein of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, one of the most prominent seismologists in the world, has said that Turkey owned the best seismological early warning system. You are able to record a massive earthquake in Istanbul 10-15 seconds earlier, he said. Stein warned that Turkey must prepare for a devastating earthquake since most people alive today would witness it.

--IBRAHIM TAKES REFUGE IN TURKISH EMBASSY

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has taken refuge in the Turkish Embassy after his 23-year-old aide accused Ibrahim of raping him. Ibrahim denied the accusation of sodomy and said that he was grateful to Turkey.

Malaysian police cordoned off the embassy building in Kuala Lumpur. Police allowed only Ibrahim’s wife and daughters to enter the embassy building. Meanwhile, Anwar accused the government of plotting against him. Sodomy is punishable by 20 years of imprisonment in Malaysia.

CUMHURIYET

--TURKEY'S MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY TO SKIP SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL

Leader of Turkey's main opposition party said he would not participate at an Athens meeting of the Socialist International, which is set to start on Monday. Deniz Baykal, chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), revealed his decision for a no show during an event over the weekend, heightening tensions between the party and the forum of more than 130 center-left parties.

--U.S. WEEKLY WARNS ON CYPRUS: SETTLEMENT OR DIVISION

U.S. magazine Newsweek made a warning on the Cyprus issue in its current edition, saying that the division of the island would become permanent if peace talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders failed to produce any settlement. The weekly said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would find a plausible ground to seek its independence as a sovereign state unless the sides reached an agreement in a year.

RADIKAL

--SOCIALISTS HEADED TO SUMMIT, BAYKAL TO MULBERRY FESTIVAL

Around 150 socialist and social democrat representatives from 100 different countries will attend the 23rd Socialist International Conference in Athens. Environment, immigration and development will be on the agenda of the conference where the Republican People's Party (CHP) will also be discussed.

CHP leader Deniz Baykal tried to prevent initiatives aiming to issue a warning to the CHP for not complying with Socialist International's principles.

Baykal, who is also the deputy chairman of the organization, had asked help from Chairman Papandreou, but could not find the support he hoped. When it became almost certain that the CHP would be discussed at the conference, Baykal, instead of going to Athens for the conference, went to the Mulberry festival in the Ayas town of Ankara.

--STIGLITZ URGES TURKEY TO CUT RELATIONS WITH IMF

Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz said Turkey should cut relations with the IMF. Stiglitz, who praised UNDP administrator Kemal Dervis, said, "The IMF's priority was not welfare but guaranteeing the credit."

YENI SAFAK

--UEFA NOMINATES HAMIT ALTINTOP

UEFA nominated Turkish soccer player Hamit Altintop for Best Star Turns along with nine other players. Soccer fans will choose the best among the ten by voting at an opinion poll on UEFA's website.

--MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER TAKES REFUGE IN TURKEY

Malaysian opposition leader Enver Ibrahim who is accused of raping a man took refuge in the Turkish Embassy in Malaysia.

Ibrahim's "People's Justice Party" claimed that the accuser was forced to make a false statement. Ibrahim sought political asylum from Turkey.