GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 29

HURRIYET

--AL-ASAD KEEPS HIS PROMISE TO GIVE WATER TO TURKEY

During his visit to Syria, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Syrian President Bashar al-Asad that Syria should open gates of dams on the Asi River. "Otherwise, wheat of farmers in the Amik Plain in Antakya (southern Turkey) would suffer from drought," Erdogan said. Al-Asad said they would share what resources they have, announcing that his country would open the dam gates for ten days.

--DISABILITY TO PERFORM MILITARY SERVICE RELEASED

The Air Forces Military Court decided to release Nurettin Demirtas, chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), and 52 others currently being tried on charges of arranging a fake certificate of disability for discharge in order to be exempt from completing their military service.

MILLIYET

--COURT ENDS HISTORIC MISTAKE

The Council of State has decided to annul a project to construct additional buildings to the Four Seasons Hotel over ancient Byzantine ruins in Istanbul upon an application by the Chamber of Architects. Earlier, the project was approved by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

--ON THE EDGE OF HOLLYWOOD?

A leading U.S. daily gave broad coverage to Turkish film-maker Fatih Akin, and eulogized his movie "The Edge of Heaven".

Ann Hornaday said in her article in the Washington Post, "The Edge of Heaven is a sprawling, multi-character tale that spans continents and addresses such of-the-moment issues as immigration, cultural tradition, identity and global politics. If that sounds familiar, it may be because 'The Edge of Heaven' is the film that 'Babel' wanted so desperately to be -- rich, textured, urgent, profound.

SABAH

--PROVOCATION IN SAKARYA

An incident, resulting in one death, occurred in the northwestern Sakarya province when nearly one thousand people raided a gathering organized by the Democratic Society Party (DTP).

A group of people gathered outside a hall where several people attended "Peace Night" organized by the DTP. The group had tried to enter the hall, trapping nearly 800 people inside for seven hours. A 65-year-old individual held up in the hall died of a heart attack.

--DISCUSSION ON TAKSIM SQUARE

Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler announced that demonstrations would not be permitted to be held in Taksim Square in Istanbul on Workers' Day on May 1. Guler said they had intelligence that some people had been planning to stage armed and provocative acts on May 1.

VATAN

--PERFECT RAID

Special operation teams of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) infiltrated the north of Iraq and raided a terrorist camp. The operation was staged last week.

MIT received a tip-off that three top members of the terrorist organization PKK would meet in the Seladze region across Mount Daglica. These three terrorists are known for organizing active forces of the terrorist organization in the region and recruiting new members to the organization.

Teams were dispatched to the area with helicopters, capturing the three top members after a small clash. One of the terrorists, who resisted, was wounded. MIT teams brought the injured and the two other terrorists to Turkey.

After this operation, MIT gave intelligence to the Turkish army, and the Turkish Armed Forces launched an air operation on the region. All terrorist elements in the region were destroyed in the air operation. The three terrorists are still being interrogated in Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey.

--NEW PARTNER OF DAILY SABAH EAGER TO BUY UZAN'S MANSION

Qatari Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, partner of the Sabah daily newspaper and ATV private TV channel, is hoping to purchase a historical mansion in Istanbul. Turkish businessman Kemal Uzan had lived in the historical Ahmet Afif Pasa Mansion in Yenikoy, Istanbul.

The Turkey's Savings Deposit Insurance Fund had tried to sell the mansion on two occasions the past, however no buyers came forward. The Qatari Amir will be a customer of the fund for a second time if he decides to purchase the mansion. His first purchase was ATV and Sabah.

CUMHURIYET

--DEMONSTRATION NOT TO BE HELD IN TAKSIM

Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said they would not allow demonstrations in Taksim Square in the city on Workers' Day, May 1. Guler called on the unions to use common-sense on the matter. Guler said demonstrations could be held in the Caglayan, Kazlicesme, Kadikoy and Kartal districts on May 1.

--OZINCE ON FOREIGN CAPITAL

Ersin Ozince, director general of Turkey's Is Bankasi, said Turkey should have a national policy in regard to capital and develop its own capital markets. Ozince said it was not enough to wait for foreign capital, but the country should have a strategy on this matter like developed countries did.

RADIKAL

--ARGUMENTS OVER TAKSIM

Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said that any attempt to celebrate May 1 Workers' Day in Istanbul's famous Taksim Square would be illegal and security forces would use force against protestors; labor unions continue to insist on gathering in the square. Unions said that they were determined to use their rights stemming from international agreements.

--"ERDOGAN WILL SEND HIS ADVISER TO JERUSALEM"

Israeli dailies have written that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would send his chief advisor for foreign policy to Jerusalem as a part of his mediation role between Israel and Syria. According to the Israeli press, Erdogan would try to gather Israeli and Syrian officials in Turkey to resume peace talks.

YENI SAFAK

--COURT RELEASES DEMIRTAS

A Turkish military court has released Democratic Society Party chairman Nurettin Demirtas, who is on trial facing charges that he used a fake health report to enable him to avoid fulfilling military service obligation. The court also released 51 other people along with Demirtas.

--"I PULLED THE TRIGGER UNDER HYPNOSIS"

The suspect in the assassination of Turkish-Armenian, Hrant Dink has claimed that he killed the journalist while under hypnosis. Levent Yildirim, lawyer for the gunman, Ogun Samast, said that his client was put in a hypnotic state before the shooting.