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AP, Reuters and AFP. 1 March 2003. Turkish parliament rejects basing 62,000 U.S. combat troops against Iraq; Turk leader says vote "completely democratic"; US stunned by Turkish parliament's rejection of troop deployment. ISTANBUL and WASHINGTON -- In a serious blow to U.S. plans for a possible war with Iraq, Turkey's parliament speaker nullified the legislature's vote Saturday to allow deployment of 62,000 U.S. combat troops to open a northern front against Iraq. Speaker Bulent Arinc voided the vote on constitutional grounds, ruling that a majority of legislators present had not voted in favor. Arinc then closed parliament until Tuesday. The vote was 264-250 with 19 abstentions, four short of a simple majority. The bill's rejection is likely to seriously increase tensions with the United States which had been expecting a positive vote. The motion would have empowered the government to authorize the basing of up to 62,000 troops, 255 warplanes and 65 helicopters. Washington has been looking to use bases in Turkey to open a northern front against Iraq, which would have divided Saddam Hussein's army if there is a war. Washington had been offering Turkey some $15 billion in loans and grants if the troops were allowed in to cushion the Turkish economy from the impact of any war. A signing of that agreement had been expected after the vote. But there was strong resistance in the governing Justice and Development Party to any vote. An overwhelming majority of the Turkish public -- polls show as high as 94 percent -- oppose a war and deputies were under strong domestic pressure to reject any U.S. troop basing. A mile from parliament, 50,000 Turks held a rally to protest the war. "No to War," and "We don't want to be America's soldiers'," they shouted as some 4,000 police stood guard. Some carried banners that read: "The people will stop this war." Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan called the parliamentary decision a "completely democratic result," suggesting the leader of the ruling party will accept the parliamentary vote. "What more do you want? It was a completely democratic result. May it be for the best," the Anatolian news agency quoted Erdogan as saying after a meeting with party leaders to evaluate the vote. Erdogan's words were echoed by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who said: "The decision of parliament is clear to see, we must all respect it." Meanwhile, US officials appeared stunned by the Turkish parliament's refusal Saturday to allow the deployment of 62,000 US troops for a possible war with Iraq. "They did what?" blurted one State Department official. After hearing the first incorrect reports on Saturday that the parliament had approved access for US troops, Washington was set to laud the move and praise the Turkish government for its courage, according to a reaction prepared by the State Department. "We warmly welcome the decision of the Turkish parliament to permit US forces to enter Turkey for possible military operations towards Iraq," it said. "We applaud the courageous leadership of the Turkish government." "This vote is a further sign of the strong strategic partnership between our countries and our joint commitment to ensure that the Iraqi regime complies with UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and eliminates its weapons of mass destruction. After it became clear the vote had failed, one US official said the earlier State Department language was "no longer operative." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProletarianNews http://www.utopia2000.org --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bdn7KI.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html ==^================================================================
