B92, Serbia
Jan 3 2007

Outrage over Dink murder suspect video

3 February 2007 | 14:20 | Source: euronews.net
ANKARA — A video showing police officers posing with Hrant Dink’s
killer caused fury in Turkey.

Turkish authorities are outraged after major television networks
broadcast a video showing unemployed teenager Ogun Samast posing with
police officers with a Turkish flag just after his arrest for the
murder of the author Hrant Dink.

"We are trying not to give any chances to those attempting to have an
organization and a gang within state instruments, by putting their
own sacred values above the dominance of the law", said Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Police chief Ismail Caliskan promises swift action:

"The pictures were shown on television on Thursday evening and
inspectors will clarify who took them and why. The police will do
everything necessary. Whoever is responsible will be given the
appropriate punishment".

Four policemen have been sacked and four gendarmerie personnel moved
to other duties for appearing to treat Samast as a hero.

Dink was killed because he was a hate figure for ultra-nationalist
Turks due to his criticism of Turkish attitudes towards the Armenians
and Kurds.

The media says the implications of the scandal are enormous and could
lead to ministers losing their jobs.

Over 100,000 people expressed their solidarity with the slain
journalist at his funeral.