Ankara  - A government tender seeking builders for Turkey's first-ever nuclear power plant received just one bid, from the Russian firm Atomstroyexport, the Anadolu news agency reported Wednesday.

Thirteen companies had asked for bidding documents, but in the end just Atomstroyexport made an official bid to build the power plant in the Akkuyu district of Mersin in southern Turkey.

Environmental groups have said that the project is a danger to the environment, especially as Turkey is prone to earthquakes.

Ankara - The Turkish government is to seek parliamentary approval for a year-long extension to a mandate that allows the Turkish military to launch operations in northern Iraq against rebels from the separatists Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

The cabinet formally presented a motion to parliament on Monday that would extend until October 2009 a broad remit for the army to launch military operations, CNN-Turk television reported. The current mandate ends on October 17.

Istanbul- The Turkish Interior Ministry has ordered an investigation into a multi-million-euro embezzlement scandal concerning Deniz Feneri, a German-Turkish charity with links to the ruling AK Party, it emerged late on Friday.

The order comes two days after a court in Frankfurt jailed two men convicted of embezzling 16 million euros that had been donated to the charity's German sister organisation, intended as aid to poverty- stricken muslims in Turkey, Pakistan and Palestine.

Athens, Nicosia - Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders focused peace negotiations Thursday on governance and power sharing in an effort to find a formula to reunite the divided Mediterranean island.

It was the third meeting between Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehemt Ali Talat since they launched a new round of peace talks on September 3.

"We will meet again on October 8 to discuss the shape the future federal government should take," said Christofias.

Ankara - US military commander Admiral Mike Mullen on Monday said that NATO would respond to defend Georgia if it was attacked by Russia if and when Georgia becomes a member of NATO.

"Should Georgia become a member of NATO, NATO is committed to a collective defence when any country is attacked... if that happens, if and when they become members, and that is to be determined, NATO would respond in accordance with the alliance requirement," Mullen, the chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff told reporters during a visit to Turkey on Monday.

Ankara - One person was reported dead and more than 20 people were missing after a ferry sunk in the Marmara Sea late Sunday, the Anadolu news agency reported.

Coast Guard vessels were joined by local fishing boats in an attempt to rescue the more 100 people on board the ferry. As of early Monday, 72 people had been rescued or were able swim to shore.