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Chants as Turks bury ex-PM Ecevit | Chants as Turks bury ex-PM Ecevit |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Thousands of Turks have demonstrated in support of secularism during the funeral of the veteran statesman Bulent Ecevit in the capital Ankara. | Thousands of Turks have demonstrated in support of secularism during the funeral of the veteran statesman Bulent Ecevit in the capital Ankara. |
"Turkey is secular and will remain secular," crowds chanted as his coffin reached the city's main mosque. | "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," crowds chanted as his coffin reached the city's main mosque. |
They also booed the arrival of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party has its roots in political Islam. | They also booed the arrival of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party has its roots in political Islam. |
Mr Ecevit, a staunch secularist, served as Turkish prime minister five times in a political career spanning 50 years. | 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 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. | He was probably best known for ordering Turkish troops into Cyprus in 1974 after a Greek-backed coup. |
Jeers | 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. |
Bulent Ecevit helped push Turkey towards the West | Bulent Ecevit helped push Turkey towards the West |
Around 10,000 police officers were on duty and 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
State burial | State burial |
Turkey's secular establishment has begun uttering stark warnings about an apparent surge in fundamentalism. | 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 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 buried at the state cemetery in a western Ankara suburb, alongside the founders of the republic. |