By empty (2/10/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Turkmenistan is preparing to hand over six Turkish citizens implicated in an alleged assassination attempt against Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov, an official newspaper reported Monday. The six accused will be sent back to Turkey where their involvement in the alleged plot to kill Niyazov will be examined by Turkish magistrates, the official Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported. The Turkmen government says Niyazov\'s motorcade came under fire Nov.
Turkmenistan is preparing to hand over six Turkish citizens implicated in an alleged assassination attempt against Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov, an official newspaper reported Monday. The six accused will be sent back to Turkey where their involvement in the alleged plot to kill Niyazov will be examined by Turkish magistrates, the official Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported. The Turkmen government says Niyazov\'s motorcade came under fire Nov. 25. Niyazov, who was unhurt, has blamed former Foreign Minister Boris Shikhmuradov for masterminding the alleged attack. Shikhmuradov has been sentenced to life in prison in connection with the shooting. Critics claim Niyazov staged the assassination attempt as a pretext to crack down on opponents. Human rights groups say Turkmen authorities routinely torture opponents and round up all their relatives. Neutral Turkmenistan said the six Turks would be sent home in the \"near future,\" along with all the necessary documents that Turkish courts will need to look into the charges against them. (AP)