http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Turkey/10121689.html
Published: 29/04/2007 12:00 AM (UAE) Reuters Turkish university students attend a rally against the government and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the ruling AK Party's presidential candidate, in Ankara. Turkish army under fire Agencies Ankara: Turkey's government warned its army yesterday , saying it is answerable to the civilian authority, after the military threatened action to defend the country's secular system. The clash followed the first moves in a process which secularists fear will end with a former Islamist president in office and spreading the influence of his faith throughout Turkish society. The European Union and the United States have urged the army not to interfere in the democratic process and called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The army, which has ousted four governments in the past 50 years, issued a toughly worded statement on Friday expressing concern over the election and said it was ready to act in defence of the secular system separating state and religion. Government spokesman Cemil Cicek's attack on the army marked an escalation in an election row pitting Turkey's secular elite, including the powerful army generals, against a government they accuse of trying to increase the role of Islam in politics. "Turkey's problems will be solved in the framework of the law, there is no other way ... The chief of the General Staff is answerable to the prime minister," Cicek told a news conference. The secularists believe the ruling AK Party's presidential candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a former Islamist, would chip away at the secular state if elected. As president he would be commander in chief of the armed forces. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan spoke yesterday with Turkey's top general, Yasar Buyukanit, Cicek said, adding the military must stay under strict civilian control. The European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, and the US urged respect for democracy. The army statement followed Gul's failure to win enough votes in parliament in the first round of the presidential election.
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