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Turkey holds ex-PM Ecevit funeral Turks bid goodbye to ex-PM Ecevit
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of mourners have lined the streets of the Turkish capital, Ankara, for the funeral procession of former prime minister Bulent Ecevit. Thousands of mourners have taken to the streets of the Turkish capital, Ankara, for the funeral procession of former prime minister Bulent Ecevit.
Mr Ecevit, prime minister five times in five decades, died last Sunday at the age of 81 after almost six months in a coma following a stroke. A series of ceremonies began early in day to culminate in a state funeral.
The funeral was moved from Wednesday to allow more people to attend. Mr Ecevit, a political force in Turkey for half a century, died last Sunday at the age of 81 after almost six months in a coma following a stroke.
Mr Ecevit was probably best known for ordering Turkish troops into Cyprus in 1974 after a Greek-backed coup.Mr Ecevit was probably best known for ordering Turkish troops into Cyprus in 1974 after a Greek-backed coup.
His funeral was moved from Wednesday to allow more people to attend and they began lining the streets from early on Saturday.
"People's Ecevit! Turkey is proud of you," chanted the mourners."People's Ecevit! Turkey is proud of you," chanted the mourners.
The crowd, some weeping, showered the hearse bearing his coffin with flowers, and many waved Turkish flags, banners and portraits of Mr Ecevit, a political force in the country for half a century.The crowd, some weeping, showered the hearse bearing his coffin with flowers, and many waved Turkish flags, banners and portraits of Mr Ecevit, a political force in the country for half a century.
State burialState burial
Around 10,000 police officers are on duty and have closed roads for the funeral procession which will include ceremonies at the Turkish parliament and at Ankara's biggest mosque. Around 10,000 police officers are on duty and have closed roads for the funeral procession.
The square outside Ankara's biggest mosque was crammed full of people from all over Turkey, many with his photograph pinned to their chests.
Bulent Ecevit was a dominant political figure for decades
Many Turks say they will remember their former prime minister as a modest and honest man from the political left-wing.
Following a change in the law made this week, Mr Ecevit will be buried at Ankara state cemetery, alongside the founders of the republic.Following a change in the law made this week, Mr Ecevit will be buried at Ankara state cemetery, alongside the founders of the republic.
There has been some speculation the funeral of this staunch secularist could develop into a protest against the government, which has its roots in political Islam, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Ankara.There has been some speculation the funeral of this staunch secularist could develop into a protest against the government, which has its roots in political Islam, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Ankara.
Mr Ecevit was prime minister when the EU accepted Turkey as an accession candidate and when the Kurdish separatist leader Abdullah Ocalan was caught.Mr Ecevit was prime minister when the EU accepted Turkey as an accession candidate and when the Kurdish separatist leader Abdullah Ocalan was caught.
But his last years in office were beset by his own ill-health and an ailing economy.But his last years in office were beset by his own ill-health and an ailing economy.
His party suffered a landslide defeat in 2002, allowing the current government to sweep to power.His party suffered a landslide defeat in 2002, allowing the current government to sweep to power.