Thursday, November 8, 2007

Sahin had earlier said he could not be happy at the release of the eight prisoners as it was unfortunate that they had been captured in the first place.

If the DTP deputies continue to serve the interests of terrorist organization PKK in a political atmosphere, they would have to accept what the Turkish constitution and Turkish laws foresee for their actions, Sahin said on local television.

The controversy stems from three DTP deputies having travelled to northern Iraq to try and help secure the release of eight Turkish soldiers taken hostage by the PKK in late October. The eight were released on November 4 and returned to Turkey.

The DTP deputies are being investigated by the office of the Ankara prosecutor to determine if they breached Turkish law by being in contact with terrorists.

Sahin was also critical of comments made by the eight soldiers while in captivity and broadcast by media outlets affiliated with the PKK.

“The statements made by these formerly missing soldiers have been published by the media. Statements they made to the broadcasting organ of the terrorist organization have disturbed the public,” Sahin said.