|
Turkey braces for pope's visit
27/11/2006 22:30 - (SA)
Istanbul - Turkish security teams took up positions around the cities of Ankara and Istanbul on Monday, a day before Pope Benedict XVI begins his first visit to a predominantly Muslim country.
Small protests broke out in both cities, but authorities say security measures for the pope - who angered Muslims worldwide with comments in September on Islam and violence - will be tighter than they were for the visit of US President George W Bush.
Benedict is to arrive at the Ankara airport on Tuesday at around noon, where he will meet briefly with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who waited until the day before Benedict's arrival to announce that he would make time to meet the pope. Snipers
News reports say about 3 000 police officers have been assigned to guard the pope upon his arrival in the dusty, sprawling capital Ankara. Snipers will watch from hillsides and tall buildings, and armoured vehicles and riot police will be stationed near the areas he is scheduled to visit.
Police also were mobilising and staking out spots in Istanbul, where Benedict will spend most of his four days in Turkey.
"We have taken all the necessary measures and observations of the route the pope (will travel) and the places the pope will visit," Istanbul police spokesperson Ismail Caliskan said.
- AP
|
News
