Americans acknowledge error

An American military delegation, headed by Lt. Gen. John Silvester, departed to northern Iraq Thursday to investigate the detentions on the ground and was expected back in Ankara today.

The detentions outraged the Turkish public and led to anti-U.S. comments in the media and the opposition, triggering what Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok called "the biggest crisis of trust between the Turkish and U.S. armies" and sparking public demands for an "apology" from the U.S. side, a demand reportedly shared by the General Staff.

"Apology is an established tool in the conduct of diplomatic relations. Such an official demand is not on the agenda for the time being," said the well-placed source but indicated the issue could be raised in the coming days depending on the future findings about the July 4 detentions.

"Talks are being held in mutual good will and is meant to figure out what has happened and to find ways to prevent repetition of such incidents," said the government source.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, as well as U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson said the talks were going well and "in mutual understanding" but Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the evidence presented by the U.S. side in the Ankara talks on Wednesday and Thursday were not "satisfactory."

The United States has returned money and documents seized during the raid into the military compound but kept some of the documents, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said. Media reports said explosives found in the raided compound led to U.S. charges that they might have been stored to be used for future illegal activities in northern Iraq.

But the foreign minister dismissed the talk of any Turkish plot: "Members of the Turkish Armed Forces never get involved in activities out of the control of the headquarters. And it is impossible for Turkey to get involved in any controlled activity that would lead northern Iraq or all of Iraq into instability," Gul told the private NTV television.