GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAY 5

HURRIYET
-- BLOODY WEDDING
Four masked people attacked the wedding of the daughter of the former head of Bilge village in Mazidagi town in the southeastern province of Mardin. Forty-four people, most of whom were women and children, were killed in the massacre. It is unknown what happened to the bride and groom. The attack, which also injured 17 people, was staged from four different sides. It was stated that the incident was not a terrorist attack but that it was caused by hostility.
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-- EVEN A TRAVEL BAN MIGHT COME
The Turkish Health Ministry announced a series of measures that would be taken in Turkey if the swine flu alert were raised to Phase 6: "A travel ban may be declared, schools would be recessed, restrictions would be applied in crowded places like cinemas and theaters, and fewer personnel would be working in places of business."
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MILLIYET
-- FOUR HOURS ON QANDIL
Columnist Hasan Cemal of Milliyet interviewed Murat Karayilan – who leads the PKK terrorist organization – in a village on Qandil Mountain. Karayilan said they had not been so close to a solution since 1993. He said: "We are now at a very important threshold. When weapons stop, dialogue can start and weapons can be laid down."
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-- ARINC RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATION
The distribution of posts among state ministries was made after the Cabinet reshuffle. Accordingly, State Minister Bulent Arinc is responsible for the Supreme Board of Radio & Television, or RTUK, the Turkish Radio and Television Corp., or TRT, and the Anatolian Agency. Arinc, who is also deputy prime minister, will also be responsible for relations with the Council of State.
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SABAH
-- VIOLENT ATTACK ON WEDDING
Masked gunmen with long-range weapons attacked a wedding party in the Bilge village of the southeastern province of Mardin and killed 45 people. The assailants first killed the male guests, and later on, they attacked numerous women and children who had all gathered in a village house for the wedding party. Interior Minister Besir Atalay said officials thought the attack had no connection with terrorism.
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-- ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH ALIYEV, PUTIN
In an effort to ease the tension between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will travel to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku and Russian city of Sochi on May 13. Erdogan will meet Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku and later he will attend talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

VATAN
-- WEDDING MASSACRE
Four people wearing masks threw hand grenades and opened fire with long-range weapons at an area where people were gathered for a wedding in Bilge village in the southeastern province of Mardin. The area turned into a bloodbath. A total of 44 people, most of whom were women and children, died. There was a life and death situation in the village, which was attacked while the men of the village, who are village guards, were away on a mission.
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-- INFLATION DROPS BELOW ZERO AFTER 33 YEARS
The economic stagnation caused a big drop in inflation rates. Producer prices did not increase, and inflation was below zero on an annual basis. Annual producer prices index dropped 0.35 percent. According to statistics, such a figure was last seen in February 1976.
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CUMHURIYET
-- TURKEY SHRINKS 3.7 PERCENT
A report by the European Union on predictions about the economy stressed that the Turkish economy would face shrinkage in exports, a rapid drop in domestic demand and several foreign financial obstacles this year. The report said that when Turkey's young population was taken into consideration, growth figures – which were expected to be seen by 2010 – would not be sufficient for unemployed people.
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-- FIRST MEETING WITH NEW MINISTERS
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan held his first meeting with the new Council of Ministers after the Cabinet reshuffle. A draft law on the establishment of Counter Terrorism Undersecretariat under the auspices of Interior Ministry was opened to signature during the meeting. Also, the distribution of posts among state ministers was made. The Turkish Radio & Television Corp., or TRT, and the Anatolian Agency were given to State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc while State Minister Faruk Celik will be responsible for the Religious Affairs Directorate.
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RADIKAL
-- MASSACRE IN MARDIN
Armed assailants waged an attack on a wedding party and killed at least 41 people in the Bilge village of the southeastern province of Mardin. Sources first alleged that the attack was waged by terrorist organization PKK, but it was later stated that the incident was the result of a feud between the families of the bride and the bridegroom.
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-- INFLATION STOPS AS WELL
The consumer price index increased 0.02 percent, and the producer price index rose 0.65 percent in April 2009. The annual inflation rate increased 6.13 percent in consumer prices but dropped 0.35 in producer prices as of April.

YENI SAFAK
-- MASSACRE IN WEDDING PARTY
A bride and a bridegroom, who were planning to take the first step to a new life together, found themselves in the middle of a bloody clash in the southeastern province of Mardin. The wedding party of the daughter of Bilge village's former headman Cemil Celebi turned into a battlefield because of a feud between two families. Four masked gunmen waged an attack on the wedding, and a total of 44 people died in the bloodshed.
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-- INFLATION TUMBLES
In April, the consumer price index increased 0.02 percent and producer price index rose 0.65 percent. A 0.7 percent rise was expected in the consumer price index. Moreover, the annual inflation rate increased 6.13 percent in consumer prices but dropped 0.35 percent in producer prices as of April.