| A court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for nine alleged al-Qaida militants who are believed to be abroad and are wanted in connection with last year’s suicide bombings in Istanbul, the Anatolia news agency reported. At least three of the militants are suspected of masterminding the attacks. Istanbul prosecutors have reportedly indicted 69 people suspected of belonging to a local al-Qaida cell and accused of involvement in the bombings. Nine others, including suspected ringleaders Habib Akdas, Gurcan Bac and Azad Ekinci, are reportedly at large. Although Turkey has been searching for the suspects for months through diplomatic channels, a court on Thursday issued formal orders for their arrests- a technical procedure that would pave the way for international arrest warrants. |