Commenting on American allegations about a Turkish plan to assassinate the Iraqi Kurdish governor of Kirkuk, Gul told reporters in central province of Kayseri that "none of these allegations are persuasive. They are nonsense."

"Turkey has been expending efforts for settlement of stability in Iraq. Members of the Turkish Armed Forces, our teams in the region, do not attempt to do such a thing. It is out of question," said Gul.

"Both US authorities and officials had information about our military team in northern Iraq," he said, adding that "our team went to the northern Iraq seven years ago in order to settle peace between Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday that the detention of 11 members of the Turkish Armed Forces by US soldiers in the Iraqi city of Suleymaniyah the day before had caused profound sorrow and reaction from the Turkish government and the General Staff.

In a written statement, the ministry said, "After receiving news about the incident yesterday, high-level initiatives have been launched both in Ankara and Washington. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. At the same time, Chief of the General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok called Supreme Allied Commander and US Forces in Europe Commander General James Jones."

Turkey demanded that the Turkish soldiers be released immediately and necessary proceedings be made for US soldiers who were involved in the incident and further information be given to Turkey.

"This incident may have impacts on our relations with the United States. We have been monitoring all developments," the statement added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2003)