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Turkish ruling party warns army Turkish ruling party warns army
(40 minutes later)
Turkey's ruling party has criticised an army threat to intervene in politics, saying the military must remain under civilian control. Turkey's ruling party has sharply criticised an army threat to intervene in politics, saying the military must remain under civilian control.
Party spokesman Cemil Cicek was commenting after the army issued an unusual statement vowing to defend Turkey's secular system. Cemil Cicek, spokesman for the Islamist-rooted party, was commenting after an unusual statement by the army vowing to defend the secular system.
The army said it was concerned by the Islamist-rooted party's choice for Turkey's next president. The army, which led coups in the past, said it was concerned by the party's choice of presidential candidate.
Mr Cicek said any army intervention was "inconceivable in a democratic state".Mr Cicek said any army intervention was "inconceivable in a democratic state".
"The chief of the general staff is answerable to the prime minister," said Mr Cicek, who is also justice minister. "The chief of the general staff is answerable to the prime minister," said Mr Cicek, who is also justice minister. TURKISH ARMY INTERVENTIONS Coups in 1960, 1971 and 1980 Forced out first Islamist prime minister in 1997
The European Union earlier warned the army, which has carried out coups in the past, not to interfere in politics. The European Union earlier warned the army not to interfere in politics, saying 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. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says the army is sending a signal that it will not accept the candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK), Abdullah Gul, as the country's next president.
The army statement, which was issued after a disputed vote by MPs on a new president on Friday, vowed to defend Turkey's secular system. Mr Gul narrowly lost in the first round of the presidential election, which is held by parliament, on Friday.
'Productive talks'
Mr Cicek told reporters that the government had the "primary duty in protecting the basic tenets of the state".
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has been meeting his cabinet to discuss the situation.Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has been meeting his cabinet to discuss the situation.
'Inconceivable' According to Mr Cicek, the prime minister spoke to army chief Gen Yasar Buyukanit on Saturday afternoon and they had a "useful and productive" conversation.
"I would like to underline that it is inconceivable in a democratic state... for the general staff, which remains under the orders of the prime minister, to speak out against the government," Mr Cicek told reporters on Saturday. Turkey is an EU candidate but entry negotiations have been partially frozen because of a dispute over Cyprus, and the EU is also concerned that Turkey's commitment to political reform is weakening.
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE President chosen by 550 MPsTwo-thirds majority (367) needed to win in first or second roundSimple majority (276) needed if the contest reaches later roundsOpposition want vote invalid if under 367 MPs attendParliament speaker insists usual quorum of 184 will suffice class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6603141.stm">Defending the secular 'faith' class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6595511.stm">Profile: Abdullah Gul EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the row was "a clear test case whether the Turkish armed forces respect democratic secularization and democratic values".
The government, he added, had the "primary duty in protecting the basic tenets of the state".
In the first round of voting, the candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK), 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.
The main secular opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), boycotted the vote and said it would challenge the election in court.
Turkey is an EU candidate but entry negotiations have been partially frozen because of a dispute over Cyprus. The EU is also concerned that Turkey's commitment to political reform is weakening.
The enlargement commissioner said the row was "a clear test case whether the Turkish armed forces respect democratic secularization and democratic values".
History of coupsHistory of coups
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says the army statement late on Friday night caused a real stir in Turkey, as it is being seen as a direct warning to the government. Our correspondent in Istanbul says the army statement late on Friday night caused a real stir in Turkey.
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. Many also believe that it is also a message to the judges in the constitutional court to declare the vote invalid and dissolve parliament, she adds.
The army has carried out three coups in the last 50 years - in 1960, 1971 and 1980 - and in 1997 it intervened to force Turkey's first Islamist Prime Minister, Necmettin Erbakan, from power.The army has carried out three coups in the last 50 years - in 1960, 1971 and 1980 - and in 1997 it intervened to force Turkey's first Islamist Prime Minister, Necmettin Erbakan, from power.
The AK is an offshoot of Mr Erbakan's Welfare Party, which was banned in 1998.The AK is an offshoot of Mr Erbakan's Welfare Party, which was banned in 1998.
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. The secularist Republican People's Party (CHP), which boycotted Friday's vote, said it would challenge the election in court because a quorum of MPs had not been obtained - a charge the AK denies.
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.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.