"Search for Mustafa Bayram continues"

Spokesman Er said in his weekly press conference that "an arrest warrant in absentia has been issued against Bayram", stating that "they are not sure whether Bayram was in Turkey or abroad".

Er said they assessed all the tip off to recapture Mustafa Bayram, a former MP.

Er said they would issue a "diffusion" (search warrant) to search Bayram outside the country.

An indictment of eastern Van province Public Prosecutor’s Office earlier said Hamit Bayram, younger son of Mustafa Bayram, was arrested by police in an operation launched against a drug smuggling organization on July 7, 2004.