STRASBOURG (AP) - Europe’s top human rights watchdog urged Turkey yesterday to abide by the judgment of a European court and grant a new trial to a Kurd sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of separatism and undermining national security. In 2003, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Hulki Gunes didn’t receive a fair trial after being accused of firing at security forces in the town of Varto in eastern Turkey, causing the death of one soldier and wounding two more. The court found the tribunal was not impartial as a military judge was present.

ISTANBUL (AFP) - Children as young as 5 are being forced by their impoverished parents, mostly immigrants, to work on the streets of Turkey’s biggest city, according to an official report. The report by the Istanbul governor’s office says 10.5 percent of children working the streets are aged between 5 and 9, 28.5 percent between 10 and 12 and 40.3 percent between 13 and 15.

A Bosnian court ordered yesterday 30 days’ detention for the former Serb member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency who was arrested two days ago on corruption charges, a court official said. “Mirko Sarovic and two other suspects are to remain in detention until December 28,” said the official. “They are suspected of being involved in organized crime and misuse of power linked with the illegal loans given by Privredna Banka,” he said. (AFP)

Several hundred Kosovo Serbs protested yesterday after a fellow Serb was attacked in the enclave of Gracanica, near the capital Pristina, police said. “Angry protesters stoned cars which were passing through Gracanica,” police spokesman Refki Morina said, adding that six ethnic Albanians were hurt. (AFP)

Turkish health officials warned of an outbreak of typhoid after close to 7,000 people in the southeastern town of Malatya sought medical help for diarrhea, private NTV television reported yesterday. The sickness was due to coliform bacteria found in two water depots that fed Malatya’s main water network, Health Ministry Director of General Services Turan Buzgan was quoted as saying by the television station. (AP)

Two Albanians drowned in a swollen river after a domestic argument, as bad weather caused flooding around the country, media reports said. Private television Top Channel said Liljana Bregasi ran away from her husband after the argument and tried to cross a small river in Elbasan district, 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of the capital Tirana, but fell into it. Her husband, in his attempt to save her, also drowned. (AP)