Independent deputy Leyla Zana said to journalists after her visit to prisoners on hunger strike in Diyarbakýr D Type Closed Prison on Wednesday that 26 prisoners are in a serious condition.

Zana said she had talked to five prisoners on hunger strike, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) deputies Hatip Dicle and Faysal Sarýyýldýz and Kemal Aktaþ, Nimet Sevim, Mazlum Tekdað, who – she said - had lost a lot of weight since the beginning of the protest.

“We know that from the 40th day of fast any day could be dangerous and lead to consequences that will hurt us all. Turkey - she said - is a country which unfortunately acts too late and puts off till tomorrow what must be done today. The government should therefore take some urgent steps as the prisoners on hunger strike expect deputy PM Bülent Arýç to act after what he said”. Government spokesman Arýnç said in a statement after the Council of Ministers’ Meeting on Monday that the Ministry of Justice has been instructed for the removal of the obstacles to defense in mother tongue. Arýnç also claimed that Kurdish leader Öcalan isn’t being subjected to isolation and added that; “He is under the protection of both domestic and international law and he can meet his lawyers if he wants”.