WASHINGTON

BUSH PRAISES DEMOCRATIC TURKEY

President Bush praised Turkey yesterday as a close democratic ally in the Middle East, but stopped short of meeting Prime Minister Erdogan’s plea for greater American assistance to defeat a Turkish terrorist group operating out of northern Iraq.

Mr. Erdogan, whose country is considered America’s closest Muslim ally, came to Washington seeking more help from the Bush administration in cracking down on a rebel group – called the Kurdistan Workers’ Party – that has killed hundreds of Turkish troops in recent attacks.

After meeting with Mr. Bush, Mr. Erdogan told reporters the president expressed concern about the terrorist groups but promised little in terms of new assistance to cut off the group’s logistics and financing. “We are exchanging information,” Mr. Erdogan said. “However, we don’t think it is sufficient. We want [the cooperation] to be taken further.” He said Mr. Bush’s priority is getting the new Iraqi government in place, before shifting attention to other problems.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Mr. Bush is committed to defeating the Turkish rebel group and other terrorist organizations operating in Iraq. “This is one area where we will continue working with Turkey and the transitional government in Iraq to address,” he told reporters.

[Before Mr. Erdogan’s visit, 11 members of Congress, including Reps. Anthony Weiner and Carolyn Maloney of New York, wrote to the president, calling on him to ask the prime minister to “denounce anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism in all forms to the Turkish people.”]

– The Washington Post

SOUTH

FORMER AMERICA WEST PILOTS CONVICTED OF BEING DRUNK IN COCKPIT

MIAMI – Two former America West pilots were convicted yesterday of being drunk in the cockpit the morning after an all-night drinking binge at a sports bar.

The pilots face a minimum of probation and a maximum of five years in prison after being found guilty of operating an aircraft while drunk. Defendants Thomas Cloyd and Christopher Hughes both bowed their heads when the verdict was read after a two-week trial and jury deliberations over parts of two days. Mr. Cloyd, 47, and Mr. Hughes, 44, were arrested July 1, 2002, as their Phoenix-bound jet was being pushed back from its gate at Miami International Airport. Police ordered the plane to turn back and arrested the pilots after security screeners smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Cloyd got in an argument over his attempts to bring a cup of coffee aboard.

– Associated Press

WEST

JACKSON ATTORNEY ISSUES STATEMENT ON GAG ORDER

A controversy over the gag order in the Michael Jackson case erupted yesterday when Mr. Jackson’s attorney issued a statement saying he had not authorized anyone to hold news conferences on the pop star’s behalf. The statement from attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. came as the jurors in Mr. Jackson’s molestation trial wrapped up their third full day of deliberations. Mr. Mesereau’s statement appeared aimed at assuring the court that his defense team had not violated a gag order imposed by the trial judge. Mr. Mesereau did not name anyone, but his statement came shortly after Mr. Jackson’s spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, held a press conference at the courthouse in which she indicated that her comments had been approved by Mr. Mesereau.

– Associated Press