PRESS DIGEST - Turkey - April 29

ISTANBUL, April 29 (Reuters) - These are the leading stories in the Turkish press on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

CUMHURIYET

- A legislative package changing 20 articles in the Turkish constitution prepared by the ruling AK Party is ready. The changes make it harder to ban political parties and include affirmative action for women and protection for "human honour".

REFERANS

- Small textile firms see a slight increase in demand after suspending production amid the global economic downturn.

- Illegal pig farms in Turkey raise the risk of a swine flu outbreak. Only three farms are licensed, while 19 have been closed since 2006 because of increased regulatory obstacles or threats from conservative neighbours. Annual demand for pork in Turkey is about 4,000 tonnes.

SABAH

- An Agriculture Ministry official says there are no unlicensed pig farms in Turkey, reducing the chances of swine flu becoming a problem in Turkey.

MILLIYET

- Turkey's construction sector, which averaged 20 percent growth in 2005 and 2006, is at a standstill, with projects worth as much as $150 million suspended. Shopping centres are hardest hit.

- Istanbul-based Kale Havacilik expects sales to reach $2 billion after it signs an agreement with Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) to produce parts and avionic systems for the U.S. defense contractor's F-35 programme, says Kale's Osman Okyay.

HURRIYET

- Ali Pandir, chief executive of carmaker Tofas (TOASO.IS), urges the government to keep in place temporary tax cuts it introduced last month. Lifting the special consumption tax has boosted hopes the industry won't contract 20 percent as forecast, he says.

- Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler calls an operation against leftist militants on Monday that killed a teen-aged bystander, as well as a police officer and one militant, "successful". The dead militant also had links with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

AKSAM

- A retired police chief says there was insufficent intelligence to carry out the raid on the leftist militant group.

DUNYA

- Istanbul's quality-of-life ranking drops seven spots to 121 in a study done by Mercer. Vienna, Zurich and Geneva hold the top three spots.