Turkey are set to take on the most powerful man in world football to fight the severe punishments imposed for the violent clashes after November’s World Cup play-off defeat against Switzerland.

TURKEY’S sports minister accused FIFA of leaning too heavily on president Sepp Blatter’s version of events and vowed to challenge the severe punishment doled out after violence marred November’s World Cup play-off against Switzerland.

Turkey’s sports minister accused FIFA of leaning too heavily on president Sepp Blatter’s version of events and vowed to challenge the severe punishment doled out after violence marred November’s World Cup play-off against Switzerland.

TURKISH officials carried out medical tests on nine people living in a neighbourhood where 40 pigeons reportedly died, but released the nine from medical observation yesterday after determining it was unlikely they had bird flu.

Turkish officials carried out medical tests on nine people living in a neighbourhood where 40 pigeons reportedly died, but released the nine from medical observation today after determining it was unlikely they had bird flu.

THE Turkish parliament yesterday voted to open the country’s air space to US warplanes, giving concrete backing to the US-led war against Iraq, just hours after an opening blitz on its south-eastern neighbour.

Turkish and US officials failed to agree on conditions for deploying tens of thousands of American troops after marathon overnight talks.