Former Turkish deputy prime minister to form own party

06/07/2008

ANKARA, Turkey -- Abdullatif Sener, a former senior official in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said Saturday (July 5th) he will start a new political party. Sener, a former finance minister and deputy prime minister, said that the party would be centrist. Sener distanced himself from the AKP last summer upon the announcement of Abdullah Gul's presidential candidacy.

Also Saturday, the Turkish Army said that troops have killed two rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on the Iraqi-Turkish border. The army seized 46 guns and various supplies and documents in the raid.

In other news, Turkish police on Friday detained 33 illegal immigrants, including one child, coming from sub-Saharan African countries. Police said the immigrants were trying to reach Greek islands. (Milliyet, Hurriyet - 06/07/08; Reuters - 05/07/08)