GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON DEC 15

HURRIYET
-- 101,000 PEOPLE IN PRISONS
Prisons have become the most crowded in 39 years. According to the figures of the Justice Ministry, the number of prisoners has increased by hundred percent in the last seven years. There are 101,100 convicts in prison as of Nov. 1, 2008.
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-- FIRES AT 8 MOSQUES IN 7 DAYS
Fires occurred in imam rooms at eight mosques on the Anatolian side of Istanbul since Dec. 8. Istanbul Mufti Prof. Mustafa Cagrici said electric heaters could be the cause of fires.
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MILLIYET
-- BELOW 40 PERCENT CREATES PROBLEM
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim has said that Turkey would hold local elections in an atmosphere of global crisis. "It won't be a problem till 40 percent. But if votes of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) decrease to 32-34 percent, it creates problem," he said.
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-- ICG SAYS AKP LOSES ITS CREDIBILITY
The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) has indicated in its annual report that 2009 would have a decisive impact on Turkey-the EU relations. The group criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for failing to maintain Turkey's reform process. It said that the political party had lost its credibility both in Turkey and the world.
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SABAH
-- NUMBER OF PRISONERS EXCEEDS 100,000
The number of prisoners have doubled in the last three years. There are 101,100 prisoners in 384 prisons in Turkey as of Nov. 1, 2008. The figures of the Justice Ministry showed that prisons in Turkey have recently become the most crowded in 39 years.
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-- MURDER AT BAR
Two people were stabbed to death at a bar, Code-S, in the Sisli district of Istanbul. This was the third bloody incident that has occurred in Istanbul in the last week. Murat Cinar (30) and Omur Goktas (23) were stabbed to death in a fight between security and customers.

VATAN
-- AND VELI KUCUK TAKES THE STAGE
The court will hear the 26th session of the Ergenekon case and Retired Gen. Veli Kucuk will defend himself against the accusations. Kucuk was accused of leading the Ergenekon terrorist organization. There are 17 separate accusations against Kucuk including attempting to destroy the Republic of Turkey by using force.

-- DR. MEHMET OZ BECOMES HERO
World famous Turkish doctor, Mehmet Oz, who lives in the United States, has become hero of American people after helping two people who were injured in a car accident. Dr. Oz was on his way to the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach, when he saw the crash in his rear-view mirror. The doctor applied pressure to Stanley Tatums' leg and another passenger's bleeding face after they were injured when their truck slammed into the vehicle in front of them.
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CUMHURIYET
-- PKK TAKE ITS POWER FROM EU
A report prepared by Sonmez Koksal, former undersecretary of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), has indicated that it was of vital importance to gain support of the EU-member countries in the fight against the PKK terrorist organization. "The PKK takes its power from some formations in countries such as Germany, France and Britain," he said.
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-- BITTER RESULT OF RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY
A total of 230 traffic accidents have happened since the beginning of the religious holiday on Dec. 5. A total of 153 people lost their lives and 769 others were injured in traffic accidents.
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RADIKAL
-- MYSTERIOUS FIRES
A section used as the room of an imam in Mavievler Mosque in Maltepe district of Istanbul caught fire. The number of mosques whose imam rooms burned in several districts of Istanbul reached eight in a week. Fires broke out in Yunus Emre Mosque in Kartal district, Haci Mehmet Sahsuvaroglu Mosque in Umraniye, two mosques in Sancaktepe, two in Kadikoy and one mosque in Pendik last week.
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-- SEVERAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS TAKE PLACE DURING FEAST OF SACRIFICE HOLIDAY
Over a hundred people died in traffic accidents that occurred during the holiday of the Feast of Sacrifice. A total of 230 accidents took place since Dec.5 and 153 people died in these traffic accidents.

YENI SAFAK
-- KUCUK TO DEFEND HIMSELF
The court will hear the 26th session of the Ergenekon case today. It is the turn of retired Gen. Veli Kucuk to defend himself. There are 17 accusations against Kucuk, one of leaders of the organization, including attempting to destroy the Republic of Turkey by using force, inciting people to rise up, establishing and leading an armed organization.
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-- GARIH'S MURDERER
It was revealed that Yener Yermez, who stabbed businessman Uzeyir Garih to death in Istanbul on Aug. 25, 2001, did his military service under the commandership of Colonel Fikri Karadag, one of suspects of the Ergenekon case. Yermez was sentenced to life imprison for homicide.