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Ex-Turkish President's Death 'Suspicious,' Remains To Be Exhumed

A Turkish investigating agency has ordered exhumation of the remains of former President Turgut Ozal after it found that he had a "suspicious" death.

The State Audit Institution (DDK), which launched the investigation earlier this year into the cause of Ozal's death ruled that his death was suspicious and ordered that the remains be exhumed for an autopsy.

In official reports Özal's death in 1993 was attributed to a heart attack. However, the DDK launched an inquiry into his death at the instance of incumbent President Abdullah Gül in March last, and announced its findings on Wednesday, Turkish media reported.

DDK said in its report that the late President's death was sudden as he was not suffering from any chronic disease. "The sudden death of any President on duty is a suspicious one," the report adds, noting that the fact that no autopsy was performed after his death was an "eclipse of reason."

Özal's death has been a matter of controversy in Turkey. Though his private doctor declared that the former President died of a heart attack, his wife, children and close friends suspect that he might have been poisoned.

by RTTNews Staff Writer

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