Turkey rounds up bombing suspects amid warnings of more attacks

ISTANBUL (AFP) — Turkey said it had rounded up several suspects over the deadly bombings of British targets in Istanbul as al-Qaeda claimed it was behind the attacks and warned of more bloodshed.

But US President George W. Bush renewed his pledge to crush global terrorism and said he would share valuable US intelligence with Turkey, stricken by fear and panic after the worst-ever bomb attacks on its soil.

"We have got a job to do and that's to defeat terror," Bush told reporters as he wrapped up a three-day state visit to Britain that was met by mass protests against the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Thursday's massive blasts in Istanbul, dubbed Turkey's own September 11, came five days after attacks perpetrated on synagogues in the city and were seen as a deliberate strike timed to coincide with Bush's visit to the United States' top ally.

Saudi newspaper Al-Majallah received a message on Friday saying: "Al-Qaeda and its associates throughout the world are the ones that carried out the two swift attacks."