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EU warns Turkish army over vote EU warns Turkish army over vote
(10 minutes later)
The European Union has warned Turkey's military not to interfere in politics, amid a row over the Islamist-rooted ruling party's candidate for president.The European Union has warned Turkey's military not to interfere in politics, amid a row over the Islamist-rooted ruling party's candidate for president.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the controversy was a test case for the military to respect democracy. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the controversy was a test case for the military to respect democracy.
In a statement after a disputed vote by MPs on Friday, the army said it would defend Turkey's secular system.In a statement after a disputed vote by MPs on Friday, the army said it would defend Turkey's secular system.
In the first round of voting, the ruling AK party's candidate, Abdullah Gul, narrowly failed to win.In the first round of voting, the ruling AK party's candidate, Abdullah Gul, narrowly failed to win.
Mr Gul, who is also foreign minister, secured 357 votes - just 10 short of the 367, or two thirds of all deputies - needed to win in the first round. Mr Gul, who is also foreign minister, secured 357 votes - just 10 short of the 367, or two thirds of all deputies needed to win in the first round.
The main secular opposition party boycotted the vote and said it would challenge the election in court.
'Strange timing'
Mr Rehn said it was important that the military left democracy to the democratically-elected government.Mr Rehn said it was important that the military left democracy to the democratically-elected government.
"This is a clear test case whether the Turkish armed forces respect democratic secularization and democratic values," he said."This is a clear test case whether the Turkish armed forces respect democratic secularization and democratic values," he said.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul faces another round of voting next week"The timing is rather surprising and strange. It's important that the military respects also the rules of the democratic game and its own role in that democratic game," he said.
The army said it was following the election process with concern and would not shy away from defending secularism.The army said it was following the election process with concern and would not shy away from defending secularism.
The main secular opposition party boycotted the vote and said it would challenge the election in court. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says the late-night army statement has caused a real stir in Turkey, as it is being seen as a direct warning to the government.
A second round of voting is due on Wednesday and the constitutional court has said it will try to rule on the appeal before the vote. Many also believe that it is also a message to the judges in the constitutional court to declare the vote invalid and dissolve parliament, our correspondent says.
The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) had boycotted the vote because it was not consulted on Mr Gul's selection as the AK party's (Justice and Development Party) candidate.
The CHP says it will challenge the election in court because only 361 MPs were present at the vote, fewer than the 367 it says is required for a quorum. AK says only a third of MPs are required.
A second round of voting is due on Wednesday and the court has said it will try to rule on the appeal before the vote.