ANKARA (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas yesterday began talks here seeking Turkey's help in overcoming his authority's financial crisis and revive the Middle East peace process. In an interview yesterday with CNN-Turk television, the president of the Palestinain Authority warned of «a threat of possible famine» in the territories if economic assistance does not resume soon. On the first leg of a tour that will also take him to Norway, Finland and France, Abbas met yesterday with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

ANKARA (AFP) - A senior Turkish diplomat charged Friday that some EU nations were seeking to impose tougher conditions for Turkey in its membership talks, warning that bilateral ties would suffer. Oguz Demiralp, head of the General Secretariat for the EU, the body coordinating Turkey's membership bid, complained that some EU countries were trying to attach political conditions to would-be talks on educational issues. «You don't change the rules of the game once the game has started,» Demiralp said.

Bulgaria has agreed to open three military bases to permanent use by 2,500 US troops who would be available for combat in the Middle East and other nearby regions, The Washington Times reported yesterday. Citing unnamed US and Bulgarian officials, the newspaper said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will seal the deal when she visits the country this week. (AFP)

Serb police have detained a former naval officer suspected of helping top war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic stay at large, Belgrade media said yesterday, the latest of several such arrests. The reported detention of Ratko Vucetic, a war invalid who lost a foot during Bosnia's 1992-95 conflict, was likely to add to speculation that the net is tightening around one of the world's most wanted men. (Reuters)