ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Retired Turkish military commanders have expressed fury that a former top Kurdish rebel has been allowed to testify against them in a coup trial, citing it as proof the proceedings were meant only to intimidate and undermine the armed forces.

Semdin Sakik, known as “Fingerless Zeki” when number two in the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), this week waived his anonymity at the ‘Ergenekon’ conspiracy trial at which hundreds, including military men, academics, businessmen and journalists, are accused of plotting to oust the Islamist-rooted government.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Retired Turkish military commanders expressed fury that a former top Kurdish rebel was allowed to testify against them in a coup trial, citing it as proof the proceedings were meant only to intimidate and undermine the armed forces.

Semdin Sakik, known as “Fingerless Zeki” when number two in the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), waived his anonymity this week at the ‘Ergenekon’ conspiracy trial at which hundreds, including military, academics, businessmen and journalists, are accused of plotting to overthrow the Islamist-rooted government.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Kurdish militants appear to have achieved their aim of being able to speak in their own language in court after the Turkish government said it would soon submit a bill to parliament on the subject.

Courts’ refusal to allow defendants who speak Turkish to use Kurdish in their defense has been a source of controversy in ongoing court cases against hundreds of defendants accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and resolving the issue has been one of several key Kurdish demands.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The Turkish government has said it will soon submit to parliament a reform allowing defendants to use languages other than Turkish in court, a key demand of jailed Kurdish militants whose hunger strike entered its 56th day on Tuesday.

The refusal of courts to allow defendants who speak Turkish to use Kurdish in their defense has been a source of controversy in ongoing court cases against hundreds of defendants accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group.

ISTANBUL, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Fitch Ratings upgraded Turkey to
investment grade on Monday, a move long coveted by Ankara,
citing underlying strengths and an easing in near-term risks for
the economy.

The credit ratings agency highlighted a moderate and
declining government debt burden, a sound banking system,
favourable medium-term growth prospects and a relatively wealthy
and diverse economy.

ISTANBUL, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Turkish Airlines is
to cooperate more closely with Lufthansa, its chairman
was quoted as saying on Monday, helping push shares in Turkey’s
flag carrier five percent higher.

This follows comments by Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan at the weekend that the two companies were to deepen
existing ties. Erdogan said on Saturday he had agreed to a
proposal by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to establish “joint
management” of the two carriers.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in published remarks on Friday he was losing hope of building cross-party support for reforms that could see him installed in a newly empowered presidency but was determined to push the plans forward.

Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics since his Islamist-rooted AK Party swept to power in 2001, trouncing the opposition in three elections, delivering unprecedented economic growth and bringing a staunchly secular military to heel.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Jailed Kurdish militants on hunger strike in Turkey may start to die within the next 10 days, Turkey’s main medical association warned on Thursday, saying the prime minister’s dismissal of the protest as a “show” risked hardening their resolve.

The hunger strike entered its 51st day on Thursday, with some 700 prisoners refusing food in dozens of prisons across Turkey, demanding the government grant greater Kurdish minority rights and better conditions for their jailed leader.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Jailed Kurdish militants on hunger strike in Turkey may start to die within the next 10 days, Turkey’s main medical association warned on Thursday, saying the prime minister’s dismissal of the protest as a “show” risked hardening their resolve.

The hunger strike entered its 51st day on Thursday, with some 700 prisoners refusing food in dozens of prisons across Turkey, demanding the government address grant greater Kurdish minority rights and better conditions for their jailed leader.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s President dismissed suggestions by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan that he had exceeded his authority over the handling of a banned protest march, highlighting increasingly open differences between the two.

Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for a decade and overseen unprecedented economic growth, is widely expected to stand for a newly-created powerful executive presidency at elections in 2014. Recent polls, however, present Abdullah Gul as the more popular figure, though he has not expressed any intention to run for the new post.