United Press International
Jan 19 2007

Controversial Turkish journalist killed

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Jan. 19 (UPI) — A prominent Turkish-Armenian
journalist was shot and killed Friday as he left his Istanbul
newspaper building.

Hrant Dink, the 53-year-old editor of the weekly Agos newspaper,
attracted controversy by speaking against the killings of Armenians
by the Ottoman Empire early in the 20th century, CNN reported.

A Turkish citizen of Armenian descent, Dink had been accused of being
a traitor and of "insulting" the Turkish state in his writings.

A colleague, Nuron Agan, said she heard three shots outside from her
desk at the Agos office, and told the New York Times that Dink had
requested police protection because of threats on his life.

Police said Dink was believed to have been shot four times by a young
man, perhaps 18 or 19, the report said.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the killing an attack on
Turkey, the Times reported.

"A bullet was fired at freedom of thought and democratic life in
Turkey," Erdogan said at a news conference.