Bugün: “Weapons of village guards to be taken away,” read the headline of the daily's main story yesterday, which reported that a historic step was being taken in the southeastern region with the Interior Ministry's work to abolish the controversial village guard system. According to a bill prepared by the ministry, the weapons of the village guards, who number nearly 80,000, will be taken away and village guards will continue to draw salaries from the state as they will be commissioned to work in their villages. The social security of the village guards, who are employed across 22 of Turkey's provinces, will be provided by the state after their weapons are taken away. The ministry is working on an interim solution for the 23,000 village guards who work voluntarily, the daily reported yesterday.Sabah: In its lead story yesterday, the daily reported that the Security Directorate asked for help from famous make-up artist Arzu Yurter to change the appearance of the secret witnesses in the case of Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network which has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting to topple the government. “On the one side, I think about my personal safety, on the other side I will assume this responsibility if it is beneficial for my country,” Yurter said. She said she had received inquiries from mafia groups before about having their members' appearance changed but that she rejected their business. “The secret witnesses who serve for the benefit of the state should be comfortable. I will do my best for their safety,” she added. A law for the protection of secret witnesses went into effect in 2008, reported the daily.
Vatan: “Eid al-Fitr traffic claimed 98 lives,” was the headline of the daily's top story yesterday, which reported that 98 people traveling during the four-day Eid break lost their lives in traffic accidents on the roads. One person died every 60 minutes during this holiday said the daily, adding that the death toll was the worst in six years.
