A gas explosion at a Turkish school killed at least 18 school girls Friday.  Turkey’s Anatolia News Agency has reported that police have detained three people in connection with the event. At least 27 people were injured.
The report said the police had arrested and questioned the school’s chairman and two administrators. The collapse of the [...]

Turkish President Abdullah Gül said in a statement, “Nothing can be achieved by terror, violently claiming lives of the innocent. These attacks show the inhumanity and misery of the assailants.”

On Wednesday, US Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey announced a new federal strategy in the fight against international organized crime that will address this growing threat to the US security and stability.
The Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime was developed following an October 2007 International Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOC Threat Assessment) [...]

The Iraqi government has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops, saying the five-day incursion is threatening their otherwise friendly relations.
Iraq’s council of ministers says the Turkish military is violating Iraqi sovereignty by conducting the incursion into Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.
Ali al-Dabbagh, the spokesman for the Iraqi government, says the government rejects the unilateral [...]

Reports say that Turkey has sent at least 10,000 troops into northern Iraq in an attempt to take down militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and their bases of operations. Reports also say that thousands more Turkish troops are prepared to enter Iraq if needed.
“The Turkish Armed Forces, which attach great importance to Iraq’s [...]

The popular video website YouTube has been blocked in Turkey once more. Several sources quote complaints against a video that insults Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, as the reason for the block. On Friday, internet users in Turkey found the website replaced by a notice saying:
“Access to this web site [...]

A car bomb has exploded in Diyarbakir, a city in the southeastern part of Turkey. According to the prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at least 4 people have died in the attack and 52 others have been injured.
The bombing, which took place in the city center, approximately 100 yards from a military post, [...]

Officials say that Turkish warplanes have bombed suspected Kurdish rebel hideouts in northern Iraq for the fourth time in five days. There is no information on whether there were any casualties.
The Turkish military says the aircraft hit eight caves and hideouts used by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels Wednesday in Iraq’s Dahuk Governorate.
Turkish state media [...]

On Monday, the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an paid an official state visit to the United States. During his visit, he met with President George W. Bush in the White House for talks that centered on the Turkey-PKK conflict and the Iraq War.
Turkey is concerned about attacks by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) [...]

According to reports, Turkey launched airstrikes against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) bases near the border to Iraq. F-16 fighter jets and helicopter gunships on Wednesday were said to have bombed targets on both sides of the border.
Turkish officials said that a major incursion was not implemented at this time to give diplomacy a final [...]

July 24, 2007 (RFE/RL) — With the initial excitement dying down after Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) party won early parliamentary elections on July 22, the Islamic-oriented AK must now tackle a number of pressing challenges.
The most immediate challenge facing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to settle the choice of a new state [...]

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey secured a solid mandate in Turkish general election, held yesterday. Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an could celebrate getting 46.5% of the vote, more than 12% better than the last poll in 2002, his party will have to settle for slightly fewer seats in Turkey’s parliament, the [...]

By Breffni O’Rourke
July 23, 2007 (RFE/RL) — Turkey’s ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development party (AK) has emerged the clear winner from parliamentary elections, indicating the public is happy with the government’s successful economic program and pro-European stance.
The electorate seems to have given scant regard to the opposition’s fears that the AK party plans to Islamize [...]