LEAD: Hijackers take control of ferry in Turkey

Nov 11, 2011, 18:53 GMT

Ankara- Unknown assailants hijacked a ferry carrying 21 passengers and staff in Turkey's Marmara sea, the government said on Friday.

The incident occurred at 5:45pm (1545 GMT) when the ferry was making its way from Izmit to Golcuk, port cities in the province of Kocaeli, south east of Istanbul, the local NTV television channel reported.

There were conflicting reports about what the lead hijacker was armed with.

NTV broadcast a phone interview with Kocaeli governor Ercan Topaca, in which he said the ferry's captain had told him the hijacker was armed with a bomb. But CNN Turk quoted Topaca as saying the hijacker was armed with a gun.

Topaca told NTV that the hijacker claimed to be linked to the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

This led to Turkish media speculation that the hijacker intended to steer the sea bus towards Imrali, the Marmara sea Island where PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is imprisoned for life.

'We haven't got clear information about the ferry's going to Imrala, but the hijacker wants this news to be on television.' Topaca told CNN Turk.