Turkish authorities have discovered a bomb near a southern Turkish military base used by the United States, a U.S. military official said Wednesday. Private CNN-Turk television said the bomb, containing 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of explosives, was found near the entrance of Incirlik air base, where some 1,400 U.S. troops are based as part of a NATO mission. The semiofficial Anatolia news agency, citing police officials, said the homemade bomb was made of fertilizer and was defused by Turkish police after being found in a disco late Tuesday. CNN-Turk said the bomb was partly made with the explosive TNT. Police were searching for two people, including a woman, Anatolia said. A U.S. military official confirmed that a bomb was discovered, but deferred further questions to Turkish authorities. «We were advised that a bomb was found off the base,» the official said . «We are taking protective measures.» The TV station said an explosion could have caused substantial damage in the area where a number of bars and cafes are located. But it was unclear if the bomb could cause damage at the base, which is surrounded by a large wall that is patrolled by soldiers. An official at the local governor's official said he had no information available. The incident comes ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Turkey this weekend. Washington has expressed interest in expanding its use of the base, which is only an hour's flight from Iraq. During the visit, Turkey is also likely to press demands that United States crack down on Kurdish rebels holed up across the border in northern Iraq. The rebels, who want autonomy in predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey, have stepped up attacks in Turkey in recent months.
