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31 May 2012

Turkish Press Review (May 31, 2012)

Turkish daily newspapers covered on their Thursday editions expulsion of all Syrian diplomatic personnel in the Turkish capital, an UEFA ban on three Turkish football teams from European competitions, approval of a legislation that bars personnel with Turkey's state-run air carrier from going on to strike, Turkish government's plans to introduce an amendment to the abortion law, death of a man reportedly due to police pepper gas, and a test-launch of Turkey's first indigenous missile.

"We have sent them away all" daily VATAN said over the expulsion of Syrian chargé d'affaires and all other Syrian diplomatic personnel with the embassy in Ankara. The daily said a massacre in Syria's Houla, which killed 108 people including 50 children, have sparked widespread outrage, prompting countries to expel Syrian diplomats including the United States, France, Britain and Germany. The daily said Turkey gave Syrian diplomats a 72-hour deadline to leave the country.

"European shock," daily MILLIYET said on UEFA's suspension of three Turkish football teams from European competitions for one year. A disciplinary committee with the UEFA banned Besiktas, Bursaspor abd Gaziantepspor from European cups due to "breach of UEFA regulations."

Daily SABAH said Turkish parliament approved a law on Wednesday that bars personnel with the Turkish Airlines, Turkey's state-run air company, from going on to strike. "THY is a strategic institution. People would have to pay the cost of a strike," the daily quoted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.

Daily HURRIYET cited Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said that the government was set to introduce amendments to the existing law on abortion including cutting the legal limit from 10 weeks to four weeks. "My personal stance is that abortion must be avoided unless a medical condition requires it," the daily quoted Akdag as saying.

Daily CUMHURIYET said a man died Wednesday at a hospital where he was treated after being exposed to pepper gas sprayed by the police while dispersing a street fight in the northwestern province of Yalova. The daily said Cayan Birben had an asthmatic condition, and he warned the police of his disease while he tried to break up the fight. The daily said Cayan's family members gathered outside the hospital for protest and police spayed pepper gas and fired in the air to disperse them.