TURKEY: TURKISH MILITARY CONVOY JOINS U.S. MILITARY VEHICLES LEAVING THE PORT OF ISKENDERUN.

Record ID: 647267

  • Title: TURKEY: TURKISH MILITARY CONVOY JOINS U.S. MILITARY VEHICLES LEAVING THE PORT OF ISKENDERUN.
  • Date: 6th March 2003
  • Summary: (W3) ISKENDERUN, TURKEY (MARCH 6, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. MLV/MV: U.S. SOLDIERS AT THE PORT. (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. LAS: POLICE TAKING SECURITY MEASURES IN FRONT OF PORT ENTRANCE. 0.21 3. VARIOUS: VEHICLES LOADED WITH MILITARY VEHICLES LEAVING THE PORT. (5 SHOTS) 1.02 4. MV/WS: PORT OFFICIAL GUIDING THE TRUCKS AND VEHICLES OUT. (2 SHOTS) 1.20 5. HAS/WS: OF THE CONVOY OF TRUCKS CARRYING MILITARY HARDWARE DRIVING ON MOTORWAY. 1.40 6. SCU: OF ARMED TURKISH SOLDIER ON EMBANKMENT ABOVE MOTORWAY WATCHING THE CONVOY DRIVE PAST. 1.45 (U3) ISKENDERUN, TURKEY (MARCH 6, 2003) (REUTERS) 7. VARIOUS: OF TURKISH MILITARY VEHICLES DRIVING ON ROAD. (6 SHOTS) 2.29 8. MLV: TURKISH SECURITY VEHICLE AT PORT. 2.34 9. MV: ARMED TURKISH SOLDIERS. 2.41 10. CU: POLICE CAR. 2.47 11. VARIOUS: OF TRUCKS CARRYING MILITARY HARDWARE LEAVING PORT (FOUR SHOTS) 3.24 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ISKENDERUN,TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVA64WA5ICZLS4XG4LAPQNBX4ZZE
  • Story Text: A Turkish military convoy joined a convoy of U.S.

    troops that left the Mediterranean port of Iskenderun on
    Thursday morning. The convoys were believed to be heading for
    the border town of Silopi.



    Turkish military vehicles and trucks joined around 35
    U.S. military vehicles leaving the Mediterranean Iskenderun
    port early on Thursday (March 6). An official from the port
    said the vehicles and U.S. soldiers were heading for the
    south-eastern border town of Silopi.

    Turkey's powerful military on Wednesday (March 5) voiced a
    strong call to allow U.S. troops on its territory, boosting
    chances of an attack on Iraq's north from Turkey which it sees
    making for a shorter, less costly war.

    Chief of the General Staff Hilmi Ozkok said Turkey would
    be better off in any war than out of it, in a rare public
    statement from the influential general that may increase the
    likelihood of a deal between Washington and its NATO ally.

    But Turkey's parliament on Saturday (March 1) refused
    permission for deployment of 62,000 of American troops in
    Turkey.

    While U.S. military personnel modernise Turkish bases
    under a previous agreement, armour and ammunition sit in the
    Mediterranean port while ships full of U.S. troops sail the
    Mediterranean Sea close by.

    U.S. ships waiting off the coast with armour, supplies and
    troops may be diverted south to join a main invasion force
    massing around the Gulf.

    An absence of U.S. troops in northern Iraq in any war
    could increase the danger of confrontation between Iraqi Kurds
    and Turkish forces -- a war within a war Washington fears.

    The Turkish parliament voted in January a motion allowing
    upgrade work on the military airbases and port.




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