Yesterday, the European Commission's Turkey Delegation organised a panel on democracy and human rights, where academics and the chair of the Prime Ministerial Human Rights Presidency discussed the current state of Turkey.

Trade Unionist Celik says that 600 inspectors work for the Ministry of Employment to inspect 750,000 workplaces and accuses the government of turning a blind eye.

In reaction to the prospect of the headscarf being allowed at university, tens of thousands of people gathered at Atatürk’s mausoleum in Ankara on Saturday.

Both the International Press Institute and the Cartoonists' Rights Network have protested against preliminary proceedings against cartoonists Kart and Temocin who stand accused of insulting the President.

At the first hearing of the eight soldiers taken hostage and then released by the PKK, the court decided to release them all pending trial. After more than two months, the soldiers are reunited with their families.

The annual Human Rights Watch Report on Turkey is pessimistic about developments. The report condemns freedom of speech violations, harassment of the DTP, violence against minorities and civilians.

After courts in Ankara and Sivas blocked access to the international video-sharing website in mid-January, a court in Izmir blocked access to the site again yesterday. The ban has now been lifted.

An explosion in an illegal firework production complex has killed twenty people and injured 117. The factory owners have disappeared. Trade unions have accused employers and the government of "work murders."

The proposed constitutional amendment which would allow university students to wear headscarves has brought its own dilemmas.

During a meeting with Macedonia’s Minister of Defense, Chief of General Staff Büyükanit also briefly answered questions about the current headscarf debate and the ultra-nationalist Ergenekon gang.

Prof. Dr. Narli predicts that the proposed constitutional change will reduce social tension. Yet the current debate is also diverting attention from the Kurdish issue and the global economic crisis, she believes.

Fikri Sağlar, former minister and a member of the parliamentary investigation committee into the Susurluk affair urges for persistent investegitation into the "Ergenekon" conspiracy, in order to relieve Turkey from "deep state cancer."

Of the 25 suspects in custody after operations in Gaziantep, 19 have been arrested. The trial will take place in Adana.

The ruling AKP's move to free headscarves in the universities, leads to strong reactions from the secularists. Some fear from the end of secular state, others argue limited freedom is hypocritical.

After a big operation against al-Qaeda in the city of Gaziantep on Thursday, 25 suspects were detained. On Monday there were taken to the prosecutor to give a statement.

Veli Kücük, Kemal Kerincsiz, Sevgi Erenerol, now under arrest for charges of "conspiracy" had already come into notoriety for the part they played in the provocative shows in the trials opened upon their own complaints against liberal intellectuals.

“The DTP, as the elected representatives of the Kurds must be allowed space; the PKK must be taken seriously,” warns reputed sociologist Prof. van Bruinessen pointing out that the Kurdish problem arises out of inequality and denial of cultural rights.

It is clear that the USA, the Turkish General Staff and the ruling AKP have agreed to break the back of the Ergenekon organisation. The question now is whether this operation will be used to shed light on cases like the Hrant Dink murder.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was the first Greek leader to visit Turkey for 49 years. The visit has been hailed as a sign of good will on both sides.