Allies in diplomatic row over jailed schoolboy

BERLIN - Germany and Turkey were heading for a diplomatic row after Berlin formally demanded the release a 17-year-old German schoolboy held for more than two months in a Turkish jail.

Marco Weiss was jailed in April after his arrest amid allegations that he had sexually molested a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Manchester, referred to as Charlotte M. Both were on holiday in the southern Turkish resort town of Side at the time. His parents say he was merely kissing and flirting with her.

The German media published reports that Weiss was being held in a cell with single toilet in a jail in the town of Antalya which he had to share with some 30 other prisoners. He was waiting to appear before a Turkish court at a hearing which had been postponed until July 6. His parents said that they were allowed to see their son only once a week when they were separated from each other by a glass screen.

The German Government yesterday issued a diplomatic note to Turkey demanding his immediate release from prison. There was no immediate Turkish Government response.

- INDEPENDENT