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A couple more tidbits:

46 injured in balloon explosion in Turkey

11:05 ET
Associated Press Newswires
Copyright 2002. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Hundreds of small decorative balloons filled with hydrogen exploded in flames Saturday before a political rally, injuring 46 people.

Dozens of balloons caught fire as people gathered to listen to the pro-Islamic politician Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a meeting of his Justice and Development Party in the southern city of Malatya, local reporters said.

The victims, who suffered burns, were rushed to a provincial hospital.

Hundreds of balloons, about 40 centimeters (more than a foot) in height, were tied together and one apparently exploded while party officials were pumping hydrogen into it. In Turkey, highly flammable hydrogen is often put in balloons instead of helium because it is cheaper.

Erdogan was also in the news earlier this week, when he was ordered Thursday to stand trial on charges of insulting the military and praising Islamic groups in Afghanistan in a speech he made a decade ago.

(sh/tr)

I was alarmed until I read that this occurred at a meeting of Islamic Fundamentalists.

Now I see this as merely an example of Allah's will.

In Turkey, highly flammable hydrogen is often put in balloons instead of helium because it is cheaper.

DOH!!

FMCDH

Yea it's cheaper if you don't count the medical expenses!