Turkish President Abdullah Gul recently ordered the State Audit Institution (DDK) to launch an investigation into the root cause of the death of former President Turgut Ozal, who, according to official reports, died of a heart attack in 1993, as allegations mount and claims by his family suggest the former president may have been killed, a Turkish news website has reported.
On Gul's order, the DDK has formed a scientific team of seven experts to investigate all aspects of Ozal's death. With backgrounds in pharmacology, chemistry, cardiology, biology and forensic medicine, the experts will investigate a claim by his family that Ozal was killed, ntvmsnbc.com reported on Monday. News website ntvmsnbc.com explained that the team's aim is to clarify whether Ozal died of a natural heart attack or as a result of chemicals and drugs that triggered a heart attack, Today's Zaman reported.
Moreover, inconsistencies and unexpected problems that arose following Ozal's heart attack will be investigated. The facts that on the day of his death his in-house doctor and nurse were both out, house staff were not able to start the ambulance due to a technical problem, there was no first aid equipment at the presidential residence and other similar issues led to suspicion surrounding the death of the former president. The team is expected to complete its report in May, the website noted.