NZ may have helped to disturb remains of Gallipoli troops

New Zealand persuaded Turkey to extend a walking track across the sacred battlegrounds of the Gallipoli peninsula, even though it may have disturbed the remains of fallen soldiers, officials admitted yesterday.

The 2km track was built by the Turkish National Parks Authority, which came under fire this week amid fears that other roadworks might have damaged unmarked graves near Anzac Cove.

The path, widened from 30cm to about 90cm, now runs from behind the New Zealand No 2 Outpost Cemetery to perhaps the most important memorial for Kiwis, at Chunuk Bair.

No formal protocols were put in place to re-inter any uncovered bones during the track work - a criticism of Turkey this week amid the row over the impact of the roadworks and dumping of rubble on to the beach at Anzac Cove.

Reports in Australia have also suggested that their Government requested the road improvements, in time for next month's 90th anniversary of the Anzac Day landings.

Prime Minister Helen Clark this week instructed officials to investigate the impact of the roadworks, and will be one of the many dignitaries at the ceremonies.

Culture and Heritage Ministry officials last night said they did not know if any soldiers' remains were disturbed in the New Zealand works.

The $750,000 for the track extension was set aside in last year's Budget, with the work to be done for next month's anniversary, but the Turkish Government will pick up the bill and has controlled the project.

Turkey has angrily rejected claims that the parks authority showed little regard for the sensitivity of the peninsula and unmarked graves. "How could we damage them? This is our own historical heritage," said a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

"And it is the heritage of other countries too, and we respect that heritage."

Avoiding a diplomatic tiff ahead of the commemorations, the New Zealand and Australian Governments have moved to publicly accept Turkey's assurances that soldiers' remains would be respected if they were found. More than 86,000 Turks were killed in the World War I Gallipoli campaign, along with 2701 New Zealanders. Most of the 130,000 killed lie in unmarked graves.

A representative from New Zealand's Embassy in Ankara is expected at Gallipoli next week for Turkey's 90th commemorations.