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Turks bid goodbye to ex-PM Ecevit Chants as Turks bury ex-PM Ecevit
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of mourners have taken to the streets of the Turkish capital, Ankara, for the funeral procession of former prime minister Bulent Ecevit. Thousands of Turks have demonstrated in support of secularism during the funeral of the veteran statesman Bulent Ecevit in the capital Ankara.
A series of ceremonies began early in day to culminate in a state funeral. "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," crowds chanted as his coffin reached the city's main mosque.
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. They also booed the arrival of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party has its roots in political Islam.
Mr Ecevit was probably best known for ordering Turkish troops into Cyprus in 1974 after a Greek-backed coup. Mr Ecevit, a staunch secularist, served as Turkish prime minister five times in a political career spanning 50 years.
He died last Sunday at the age of 81 after almost six months in a coma following a stroke.
He was probably best known for ordering Turkish troops into Cyprus in 1974 after a Greek-backed coup.
Jeers
His funeral was moved from Wednesday to allow more people to attend and they began lining the streets from early on Saturday.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 burial Bulent Ecevit helped push Turkey towards the West
Around 10,000 police officers are on duty and have closed roads for the funeral procession. Around 10,000 police officers were on duty and 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.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 When the funeral cortege arrived, the mourning turned into a political event and a show of support for the Turkish republic and the secular principles it was founded upon.
Many Turks say they will remember their former prime minister as a modest and honest man from the political left-wing. The president and military commanders were cheered but Mr Erdogan, whose party defeated Mr Ecevit four years ago, arrived at the funeral service to deafening boos and jeers.
Following a change in the law made this week, Mr Ecevit will be buried at Ankara state cemetery, alongside the founders of the republic. State burial
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. Turkey's secular establishment has begun uttering stark warnings about an apparent surge in fundamentalism.
Mr Erdogan's government denies that it has an Islamic agenda and the prime minister has insisted his Justice and Development (AK) party is "working for the secular state to succeed".
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.
Following a change in the law made this week, Mr Ecevit was to be buried at Ankara state cemetery, alongside the founders of the republic.