Turkey refuses Israeli request to interview Marmara captain

Turkey has refused to give Israel permission to hear testimony from the captain of the Mavi Marmara ship which was the focus of the May 31 raid by Israeli commandos as the ship led a convoy to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Turkel committee set up by Israel to investigate the incident made an official request to the Turkish Embassy on Sunday. Turkey formed its own committee to investigate the flotilla incident which has already heard testimony from the Mavi Marmara's captain and crew. The Turks also emphasized that the flotilla incident will not be over until Israel apologizes for killing nine Turkish activists during the raid and pays their families reparations. Israel claims its soldiers were attacked by the activists and acted in self defense.