US reporter detained in Turkey

An American reporter, has been detained by police in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, Turkey,

Jake Hess is facing accusations over alleged links with the Kurdish Communities Union, or KCK, and of leaking information to US security services.

"Jake was detained by police in Diyarbakir on Wednesday," said his lawyer Serkan Akbash.

Mr Hess was accused of collaborating with around 150 Kurdish activists currently in prison. The names of those activists are included in a case file about the KCK.

Hess is also accused of leaking information about nearby provinces via mail to the US authorities said his name was found in some suspicious letters written to the United Nations and to various European countries.

Akbash said Hess might be deported for "helping those who want to disturb the safety and public order of the country."

Hess was writing articles mainly for Inter Press Service. His topics related mainly to the suspected 'terrorists' claims of having been tortured in Turkey.