Istanbul bombings trial adjourned
Monday, 31 May 2004 19:49
A Turkish state security court has ruled it is not competent to try 69 suspects accused in connection with four suicide attacks in Istanbul.
The court made its decision after lawyers challenged its competence on the grounds that state security courts were abolished by parliament earlier this month as part of constitutional reforms.
The court will continue until Friday with basic procedures such as checking the identities of all 69 suspects, after which the case wil be effectively frozen.
The Turkish parliament has yet to pass laws providing for new court structures.
But Justice Minister Cemil Cicek was quoted by media yesterday as saying a law establishing the new criminal courts would be passed within a fortnight.
Four truck bombs killed 61 people and wounded more than 600 in November in attacks directed at two synagogues, the British consulate and the local headquarters of London-based bank HSBC.
