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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