Two Turks Expected To Be Handed Over To Turkish Officials In Khartoum, In Good Condition

ANKARA, July 27, 2003 (Anadolu Agency) — The two Turks who were among the five persons who were caught in Malawi last month as they were accused of being members of Al Qaeda and who were sent to Sudan on Friday as they were innocent, are expected to be handed over to Turkish officials in Khartoum on Saturday.

A high ranking Turkish official in Khartoum said on Saturday that he had contacts in Sudanese Foreign Ministry in the morning, adding that he got information about the developments and he talked to Arif Ulusam and Ibrahim Habaci.

Noting that Ulusam and Habacý were handed over to Sudan as they were innocent and that Sudanese officials could not find any reason to accuse the two Turks, the official said that he expected the two Turks to be handed over to them the same day. The official said that the Turks could also be handed over on Sunday if certain procedures last more than expected.

Ulusam and Habacý are fine, they will be guests of Sudan and they will get help to go to the place which they want to go (Malawi, Turkey or another country).

The official pointed out that the two Turks were kept in Malawi after being caught, adding that Sudanese officials had no information saying that these persons had been handed over to American officials.

The official said that the persons were handed over to Sudan as there was one Sudanese among the persons who were caught, as Sudan was geographically close and as Sudan accepted all the five persons.

Restaurant owner Arif Ulusam and headmaster Ibrahim Habacý from Turkey, Fahr Al Behli from Saudi Arabia, Mahmud Serdar Isa from Sudan and Halife Abdi Hasan from Kenya were caught in Malawi last month as they were accused of being members of Al Qaeda.