Homeland Security

DATE=03-28-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-301470

TITLE=TURKEY HIJACKING (s)

Byline=AMBERIN ZAMAN

Dateline=ISTANBUL

Intro: A Turkish airlines flight was hijacked late Friday some 20 minutes after it took off from Istanbul en route for the Turkish capital, Ankara

Text: It remains unclear what the hijacker's motives are. Turkish offiicials say he is acting alone, but Greek T-V says four hijackers were involved. The hijackers reportedly wants to go to Berlin Germany. But the European made airbus jet was forced to land in Athens to refuel because it only had enough fuel to reach Ankara.

As many as 200 passengers are believed to be on board the flight. They include at least two members of parliament and several high ranking Turkish officials.

Anti war sentiment is very strong in this predominantly muslim nation which borders Iraq. And Turkey is helping the coalition war effort by allowing British and US warplanes to use Turkish airspace to launch bombing raids against Iraqi targets. And some Turkish television channels were speculating over a possible connection between the war and the hijacking. (Signed)

NEB/PT