GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 8

HURRIYET

--NUMBERS FOR POLICEMEN

After receiving harsh criticisms about use of excessive force by policemen during May 1st celebrations in Istanbul, the Security Department has decided to write special numbers on policemen's riot helmets. If a policeman resort to excessive force, he/she will be easily identified from the numbers on his/her helmet.

--TOPTAN WANTS A NEW CONSTITUTION AND SENATE

Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan has indicated that the Constitutional Court overstepped its authority. Toptan proposed at a news conference to debate the bicameral system in Turkey. Toptan said, "I think that it would be beneficial to open debates on the bicameral system along with preparation of a new constitution. The bicameral system will help us to ease the burden of the Constitutional Court. In that case, the court will have the opportunity of working more comfortably."

MILLIYET

--WE FAIL TO RESIST

Turkish national football team has been beaten 2-0 by Portugal, one of the favourites of the tournament, in their first match in the Euro 2008.  Turkey will take on Switzerland in its second match on Wednesday.

--A CALL FOR SENATE

Criticising the decision of the Constitutional Court to invalidate the amendment lifting the ban on headscarf at universities, Parliament
Speaker Koksal Toptan has proposed a new constitution and the senate system to prevent another crisis among the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

"The bicameral system will help us to ease the burden of the Constitutional Court," he said at a news conference. Toptan also said that he was planning to convene leaders of political parties having seats at the parliament next week to asses recent developments.

SABAH

--NIGHT LIKE A NIGHTMARE

Turkish national football team did not seem promising last night for the rest of its games in the European Championship after a 0-2 defeat at the hands of their Portuguese rivals. The Turkish team surrendered to Pepe and Meireles from Portugal, whose three shots bounced of the Turkey's goal posts.

--PARLIAMENT CHIEF PROPOSES BI-CAMERAL SYSTEM

Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan proposed on Saturday to add a senate to the current national assembly to make it a bicameral parliament. "The bicameral system will help us to ease the burden of the Constitutional Court. In that case, the court will have the opportunity of working more comfortably," he said. Turkey used to have a bicameral parliament up until 1980. "The senate was useful back then. It should have not been abolished," Toptan said.

VATAN

--TURKISH PARLIAMENT HEAD SAYS HIGH COURT OVERSTEPPED ITS POWERS IN HEADSCARF RULING

Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan criticized on Saturday a ruling by Turkey's high court which annulled a constitutional amendment that allowed female students wear headscarves in universities. Toptan said the high court has overstepped its authority of interpreting the related constitutional provision, which gives the court the power to examine a case "only in its form."

"The court ruling opened the way for questioning the principle of separation of powers. Although the constitution clearly states that the Constitutional Court can only examine a constitutional amendment in its form, the court passed a ruling on the substance of the case," Toptan said.

--TURKISH WARPLANES HIT TERRORIST CAMP IN IRAQ'S NORTH

Turkish military said late on Saturday that its warplanes launched cross border operation into Iraq's north. "Warplanes effectively hit a target of the terrorist organization PKK in Zap region at 22:30 hours," statement from the General Staff said.

CUMHURIYET

--BAYKAL REJECTS TOPTAN'S PROPOSAL FOR SENATE SYSTEM

Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan has indicated that the Constitutional Court overstepped its authority by invalidating the amendment on headscarf. Toptan said at a news conference at the parliament, "I think that it would be beneficial to open debates on the bicameral system along with preparation of a new constitution. The bicameral system will help us to ease the burden of the Constitutional Court."

Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition party CHP, rejected the proposal on the ground of lack of an appropriate atmosphere in the country.

--WITH GENCER'S VOICE

The 36th International Istanbul Music Festival organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and sponsored by the Borusan Holding, has begun with an opening ceremony at the Hagia Eirene. Voice of Turkish diva Leyla Gencer who died in Italy on May 10th at the age of 80, echoed in the historical site during the opening.

RADIKAL

--TURKISH PARLIAMENT HEAD CALLS FOR BI-CAMERAL SYSTEM

Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said Saturday that Turkey should debate a bicameral system with a senate. "A senate would ease the burden on the shoulders of the Constitutional Court" he said.

Toptan also said the Constitutional Court overstepped its powers in its ruling over the headscarf by examining the case in its substance. "We need a  new constitution to make political and legal structures compatible with democracy," Toptan said. The parliament speaker also said he considered inviting political party leaders to hold a joint meeting.

--A BITTER KICK-OFF FOR TURKEY EURO CHAMPIONSHIP

Turkish national football team took a discouraging 0-2 defeat in Saturday's game with Portugal in 13th European Football Championship in their first match in Group A. The Turkish team was barely visible against Portugal, one of favorites of the European event. Turkish defenders had difficult time to stop Portugal's star man, Cristiano Ronaldo.

YENI SAFAK

--PARLIAMENT SPEAKER URGES NEW CONSTITUTION

Turkish Parliament Speaker called for a new constitution and urged debate for a bicameral system. Toptan also said the Constitutional Court violated the constitution in its ruling over headscarf issue. "The ruling is a source of concern for democracy," he said.

--TURK TELEKOM ANNOUNCES 320 MLN USD NET PROFIT IN Q1

Turk Telekom, Turkey's biggest fixed-line phone provider, reported a net profit of 398.6 million YTL (nearly $320 million) in the first quarter of 2008, down from a $514.8 million over same period in 2007.

The company said its sales revenues increased 13 percent to reach some 2.4 billion YTL (nearly $1.9 billion) in first quarter in 2008 over the same period last year.