Kurds Say They Bombed Turkish Hotels

[RedEarth]

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Bombs exploded simultaneously at two small hotels Tuesday, killing two people and wounding 11. Kurdish separatists claimed responsibility for the attack, and Turkish authorities dismissed another claim by an al-Qaida-linked group.


One of the hotels was only a few miles from where the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team is staying during the final stop of its pre-Olympic tour. The team decided to proceed with an exhibition game Tuesday night against Turkey's national team, U.S. team spokesman Brian McIntyre said.


Two more explosions caused damage but no casualties at a liquefied petroleum gas plant on the outskirts of Istanbul, and Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said police were investigating to determine whether they were linked to the hotel blasts.


A previously unknown Kurdish group said it carried out the attack. The Germany-based Mezopotamya News Agency, which often reports rebel statements, said it received a telephone call from an individual claiming responsibility for the attacks in the name of the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons Organization.


It said the group carried out the attacks because of recent Turkish military operations against the rebels. No other details were immediately available.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=716&e=5&u=/ap/20040810/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey_attack

[papau]

1. previously unknown Kurdish group - and if you believe that we can sell

you even more Turkish flavored anti-Kurd ideas!

Freedom Falcons - I wonder if there is that alliteration in the original Kurd?

[Charlie Brown]

2. Aren't the Kurds our buddies

like Kadaffi and Mushareff