Pope gunman's family begin strike

Mehmet Ali Agca was sent back to jail a week after being released

Fifteen relatives of the gunman who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981 have begun a hunger strike to protest against his return to prison.

Mehmet Ali Agca's sister told state owned Anatolia news agency that the family, who reportedly include a child of four, had started a "death fast".

Agca, 48, was freed on 12 January after serving nearly 25 years in jail.

But a a week later, a court ruled he should serve more time for killing a Turkish journalist in 1979.

Prosecutors have said that Agca must stay in jail until January 2010.

Agca's sister, Fatma Yildirim, speaking from her home in the south-eastern city of Malatya, said family members had started the hunger strike to demand his release.

She said a child of four and her mother, who is unwell, would take part.

Statement

"Why was he freed and then put back in jail?" Anatolia quoted her as saying.

"Where are justice and the law? Either they will expel us from this country or we will die together with my brother. He will die in prison and we will die here," she said.

Agca was awaiting trial for the murder of left-wing Turkish journalist Abdi Ipekci when he escaped from prison and shot the Pope.

He has never explained why he did it.

Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek had appealed against his release earlier this month, arguing that cuts in his original jail term had been miscalculated.

Mr Cicek said Agca should serve a full 10-year term for Ipekci's murder, as well as two bank robberies.