Turkish Press Review

ANKARA

Turkish dailies on Friday covered the death of Turkish veteran journalist Mehmet Ali Birand, funeral ceremonies of the three Kurdish women killed in Paris, the statements of figures in the TUSIAD, the former head Umit Boyner and incoming head Muharrem Yilmaz, lastly the fiasco of the rescue operation by Algerian army forces in Ain Amenas natural gas facility. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

All Turkish dailies covered the death of Turkish veteran journalist and anchor man Mehmet Ali Birand who was the Chairman of Kanal D News Group. 71 Years old died at an intensive care after a long battle with illness at an Istanbul hospital on Thursday evening. Birand began his journalism career in 1964 with Milliyet newspaper. Moreover, Birand held interviews with world leaders, Turkish statesmen, he hosted a top-rated political tv show called "The 32nd Day". Daily MILLIYET covered the story of Birand in two whole pages and its well known columnists shared their stories with Birand in their columns.

All of the Turkish dailies covered the the funerals of the three Kurdish women killed which were held on Thursday in Diyarbakir. The three PKK women were shot dead by unknown assailants in Paris last week. Daily HURRIYET headlined, "Diyarbakir stopped for peace", and added that there were no outbursts during the ceremony and all the mourners at the ceremony were being very sensible and careful. Everybody paid attention to wear black to signify their sorrow and to wear white scarfs to signify peace, it was stated. Thousands headed to Diyarbakir to pay respects to the three Kurdish women.

All Turkish papers shared the words of the newly elected and the outgoing heads of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD). Both Boyner and Yilmaz delivered their speeches and underlined the ongoing peace talks at the General Assembly of TUSIAD. Muharrem Yilmaz, the incoming head of TUSIAD took over TUSIAD's head from Umit Boyner on Thursday. Both Yilmaz and Boyner stressed that they seek a peaceful solution and end to Kurdish issue.

Lastly, most of the Turkish dailies covered the failed rescue operation to free hostages in Algeria. Daily YENI SAFAK headlined, "Scandal of saving hostages", and said that the Algerian army forces held a rescue operation in Ain Amenas natural gas facility. The operation ended in a tragic fiasco, killing of 34 hostages, the daily said.