NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Feb 9 2007
All claims over Dink murder being investigated: Turkish police
A number of police officers have been suspended from duty pending an
inquiry into alleged failures to act on information warning the
Turkish-Armenian journalist would be killed.
Güncelleme: 18:37 TSÝ 09 Þubat 2007 CumaANKARA – All allegations
surrounding the murder of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink were being fully investigated by public prosecutors and civil
inspectors, a spokesman for the Turkish police said Friday.
Speaking at a regular weekly press briefing, police spokesman Ismail
Caliskan said the investigation into Dink’s murder on January 19 was
being thoroughly pursued.
Caliskan denied there was any tension between the civil police and
the paramilitary gendarme after photos and video tapes of Dink’s
alleged killer, Ogun Samast, taken while he was in custody, were
released to the media.
The photos and video showed Samast pictured in front of a Turkish
flag and being portrayed as a hero. There was controversy as to
whether the photos and video were taken while Samast was in police or
Gendarme custody.
Asked whether there had been any negligence on the part of security
forces concerning the murder of Dink, Caliskan said and investigation
into allegations was continuing and that inspectors were trying to
determine if there had been any failings on the part of police.