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Iraq
Turkey offers Saddam safe haven
2003-02-11
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey has offered a safe haven to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein if he steps down to prevent a U.S.-led war, a Turkish newspaper says. Aides to the prime minister were not immediately available for response to the report. Foreign Ministry officials had no immediate comment. The mass-circulation daily Milliyet said Prime Minister Abdullah Gul had made the offer to Iraq's number two, Taha Yasin Ramadan, during a secret visit he made to Ankara this month. "Step down to prevent a war, for the future of the Iraqi people. If you take this decision Turkey is ready to make you its guest and provide for your security. Such a step would prevent a war," Fikret Bila, a columnist with good government connections, quoted the Turkish offer to the Iraqi leader as saying. Milliyet said Iraq had given no answer.

NATO member Turkey is reluctantly gearing up for a war in neighbouring Iraq that it fears could destabilise the region and damage its own fragile economy. Turkey has tried to lead efforts to avert war, hosting a meeting of regional leaders last month. It has been cautious in moves towards allowing U.S. access to Turkish bases to prepare for a war. A final parliamentary vote is expected next week. Turkish officials have previously denied any efforts to encourage Saddam to step down.

FOLLOWUP:
Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul Tuesday denied a report that he had offered safe haven to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein if he stepped down to prevent a U.S.-led war. "No, no," Gul responded when reporters asked him about the report in the mass-circulation daily Milliyet, which said he had made the offer to Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan during a secret visit by Ramadan to Ankara earlier this month.
Make up your dagnabbed mind!
Posted by:Murat

#1  Bare in mind that in turkey a 'safe haven' translates to the thing that mussolini was hanging from at the end of world war II.
Posted by: Frank Martin   2003-02-11 11:51:23  

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