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| Huge rally for Turkish secularism | Huge rally for Turkish secularism |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people are rallying in Istanbul in support of secularism in Turkey, amid a row over a vote for the country's next president. | Tens of thousands of people are rallying in Istanbul in support of secularism in Turkey, amid a row over a vote for the country's next president. |
| The protesters are concerned that the ruling party's candidate for the post remains loyal to his Islamic roots. | The protesters are concerned that the ruling party's candidate for the post remains loyal to his Islamic roots. |
| The candidate, Abdullah Gul, earlier said he would not quit despite growing criticism from opponents and the army. | The candidate, Abdullah Gul, earlier said he would not quit despite growing criticism from opponents and the army. |
| Mr Gul failed to win election in a first round vote in parliament as opposition MPs boycotted the vote. | Mr Gul failed to win election in a first round vote in parliament as opposition MPs boycotted the vote. |
| They are also challenging its validity in the Constitutional Court. | They are also challenging its validity in the Constitutional Court. |
| An army statement on Friday accused the government of tolerating radical Islam and vowed to defend secularism. | An army statement on Friday accused the government of tolerating radical Islam and vowed to defend secularism. |
| ABDULLAH GUL 1950: Born in Kayseri1991: Elected to parliament for pro-Islamist Welfare Party2001: One of founders of AK2002-03: Prime minister2003: Foreign minister, leading EU accession talks Profile: Abdullah Gul | ABDULLAH GUL 1950: Born in Kayseri1991: Elected to parliament for pro-Islamist Welfare Party2001: One of founders of AK2002-03: Prime minister2003: Foreign minister, leading EU accession talks Profile: Abdullah Gul |
| Mr Gul has steered Turkey's European Union accession talks as foreign minister and is seen as less confrontational than Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development (AK) party. | |
| "The president must be loyal to secular principles. If I am elected, I will act accordingly," he said after his nomination for the presidency. | "The president must be loyal to secular principles. If I am elected, I will act accordingly," he said after his nomination for the presidency. |
| But some analysts say he is closer to his religious roots, and his wife would be the first First Lady to wear a headscarf, a deeply divisive statement in Turkey. | But some analysts say he is closer to his religious roots, and his wife would be the first First Lady to wear a headscarf, a deeply divisive statement in Turkey. |
| 'Test case' | 'Test case' |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says secularists are concerned that if he is elected, the AK party will control the presidency, the government and parliament. | |
| We want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey Protesters at rally | |
| Sunday's "Republican Meeting", planned by dozens of non-governmental organisations, took place in Caglayan Square in Istanbul. | Sunday's "Republican Meeting", planned by dozens of non-governmental organisations, took place in Caglayan Square in Istanbul. |
| "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," shouted demonstrators from all over the country as they waved flags and pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. | "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," shouted demonstrators from all over the country as they waved flags and pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. |
| "We want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey," they added. | |
| Many sang nationalist songs and called for the government's resignation. | Many sang nationalist songs and called for the government's resignation. |
| Our correspondent describes the rally as an enormous show of force. More than 300,000 people attended a similar event two weeks ago. | Our correspondent describes the rally as an enormous show of force. More than 300,000 people attended a similar event two weeks ago. |
| On Saturday, AK spokesman Cemil Cicek responded to Friday's unusually forthright army statement. | On Saturday, AK spokesman Cemil Cicek responded to Friday's unusually forthright army statement. |
| The military, which led coups in the past, said it was concerned by the party's choice of presidential candidate. | The military, which led coups in the past, said it was concerned by the party's choice of presidential candidate. |
| Mr Cicek said any intervention was "inconceivable in a democratic state". | Mr Cicek said any intervention was "inconceivable in a democratic state". |
| "The chief of the general staff is answerable to the prime minister," he added. | "The chief of the general staff is answerable to the prime minister," he added. |
| History of coups | History of coups |
| Our correspondent in Istanbul says the army statement late on Friday night caused a real stir in Turkey. | 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, she adds. | 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 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. | 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. |