Anti-Sharon demonstrations in Turkey

Turkey witnessed demonstrations against the visit to Ankara by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The Turkish demonstrators chanted anti-Israel slogans and labelled Sharon as "assassin" and "Nazi".

Turkish police rounded up 131 demonstrators who protested the visit. Turkish newspaper lashed out at the visit and attacked Ankara for receiving the Israeli Premier.

Turkey, meantime, rejected Israel's stances on peace negotiations and confirmed that Sharon's demand for halting violence before the start of negotiations is illogical.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said at a press conference he gave with Sharon yesterday that the Isaeli demand does not benefit peace.

Meanwhile, NTV network said the talks that were held between Sharon and Prime Minister earlier yesterday showed that there might be some differences in viewpoints between Turkey and Israel as regards the Middle East peace process, and that the two sides would not let these differences affect their bilateral relations.

"It is not likely that Israel will show anger at the Turkish viewpoints as regards the peace process," the NTV reported.

The network said that Sharon's visit has put Ankara in a critical situation as it is trying now to play a balanced role between the Israeli and Arab sides.

Sharon stress by that Israel was waiting for Turkey's support could be seen as a condition for receiving Israel's assistance.

It also could be seen that Sharon wants Turkey to exercise pressure on Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat and to back the proposed missile shield Israel wants to set up to face alleged missile threats by Middle Eastern states.

The network said that the Turkish government will take its time in studying these demands, especially the issue of the missile shield as it does not want to stir the anger of the Arab and Islamic states.