Atatürk's gun can not enter Turkey

ISTANBUL

Turkish businessman Bülent Türker, (L) DHA photo

The gun of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, cannot be brought back to Turkey because of bureaucratic obstacles, daily Radikal reported today.

"If we could bring the gun to Turkey, it would be exhibited in many museums. But despite all my efforts, I still haven't been able to get the necessary permission," Bülent Türker, the current owner of the pistol, said.

The gun, which was manufactured especially for Atatürk, was sold Oct. 26 at an auction in London for 26,000 British pounds to Türker, a Turkish businessman.

The pistol was a gift to Atatürk by the then-president of Argentina, Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear, but officials are not sure whether it ever reached its destination.