Counterexamples to the Kneser conjecture in dimension four

We construct a connected closed orientable smooth four-manifold whose fundamental group is the free product of two non-trivial groups such that it is not homotopy equivalent toM ₀#M ₁ unlessM ₀ orM ₁ is homeomorphic toS ⁴. LetN be the nucleus of the minimal elliptic Enrique surfaceV ₁(2, 2) and putM=N∪ _∂NN. The fundamental group ofM splits as ℤ/2 * ℤ/2. We prove thatM#k(S ²×S²) is diffeomorphic toM ₀#M ₁ for non-simply connected closed smooth four-manifoldsM ₀ andM ₁ if and only ifk≥8. On the other hand we show thatM is homeomorphic toM ₀#M ₁ for closed topological four-manifoldsM ₀ andM ₁ withπ ₁(M_i)=ℤ/2.