U.S. Releases Two Turkish Reporters

Cetin Ozcevik and Cebrail Coskun, who work for APTN news agency, were released at noon yesterday in Bagdat (Baghdad). The pair said that they were being held along with two Iraqis because a police dog near the entrance of U.S. Central Headquarters had reportedly sniffed traces of bomb material in their belongings. Ozcevik said they were immediately arrested and taken to a nearby jail.

Ozcevik added that they were not mistreated during the interrogation and that their needs were constantly taken care of.

As they were being released a U.S. official said to them, "There has been a misunderstanding, we apologize."

Ozcevik indicated that he would continue to work in Bagdad. The two reporters thanked the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Embassy in Baghdad for helping to secure their release.