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U.S. releases Turkish troops

ANKARA, Turkey, July 6 (UPI) -- Turkish soldiers detained two days ago in Iraq by U.S. troops were released Sunday following intensive diplomatic contacts between Ankara and Washington.

The soldiers, three officers and seven junior officers along with number of others working at a Turkish liaison office in the Iraqi city of Suleymaniyeh were taken under custody after a group of U.S. soldiers stormed into the compound Friday.

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The news of the release of soldiers came shortly after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked by phone with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.

Cheney asked for a meeting of Turkish and U.S. military officials in Iraq to discuss the matter.

The 11 soldiers taken to Baghdad after their detention are expected to return to Suleymaniyeh Monday morning by a helicopter, officials said. The detention sparked an uproar and anger in Turkey with demonstrations and protests held in Ankara and Istanbul.

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