"Turkish hijackers seek asylum: minister
ANKARA - The two Turks who hijacked a Turkish Airliner to Italy on Tuesday are seeking political asylum and there are no indications that they are protesting against the pope`s planned visit to Turkey as initially reported, Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said.
'The information concerning the pope was not confirmed... According to the information we just received these persons are seeking political asylum and have said so to the (Italian) police,' Yildirim told NTV television."
More:The Anatolia Times