Euro Olympic table tennis qualifier moved from Istanbul

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) The International Table Tennis Federation has moved the European Olympic qualification tournament from Istanbul to Halmstad in Sweden, because of security concerns.

Four people were killed and dozens wounded in a suicide bombing on Saturday in Istanbul. Turkey has endured six suicide bombing attacks in less than a year.

In agreement with the European Table Tennis Union, the ITTF decided to move the tournament, which was scheduled for April 6-10, to Halmstad on April 12-16.

ETTU President Ronald Kramer says ''many of the European member associations, players, coaches, and others have informed us of their great concern in this period of time to travel to Istanbul.''

''From a human point of view, it may even be unfair to ask our Turkish colleagues to continue preparing the event.''