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| Turkey holds new presidency vote | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Voting starts in the newly-elected Turkish parliament on Monday to choose the country's next president. | Voting starts in the newly-elected Turkish parliament on Monday to choose the country's next president. |
| Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is standing again, challenged by a nationalist and a left-wing candidate. | Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is standing again, challenged by a nationalist and a left-wing candidate. |
| Mr Gul's first bid to become president was blocked in April amid claims that he was a threat to the secular system. | Mr Gul's first bid to become president was blocked in April amid claims that he was a threat to the secular system. |
| The crisis forced an early election which Mr Gul's AK Party won with a landslide. He is expected to win by the third round of voting later this month. | The crisis forced an early election which Mr Gul's AK Party won with a landslide. He is expected to win by the third round of voting later this month. |
| Mr Gul - who once belonged to a pro-Islamic party - says his views have changed and that he is loyal to the country's secular constitution. | Mr Gul - who once belonged to a pro-Islamic party - says his views have changed and that he is loyal to the country's secular constitution. |
| Military watching | Military watching |
| In April, Turkey's main opposition party boycotted the presidential vote, labelling Mr Gul a threat to the secular system. | In April, Turkey's main opposition party boycotted the presidential vote, labelling Mr Gul a threat to the secular system. |
| If elected, I will support the government's efforts towardsgreater democratisation and liberalisation Abdullah Gul class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6595511.stm">Profile: Abdullah Gul Protesters took to the streets and the military warned it was ready to step in. | |
| But since then, Abdullah Gul's AK Party has been returned to parliament - and power - with 46% of the vote. | But since then, Abdullah Gul's AK Party has been returned to parliament - and power - with 46% of the vote. |
| He calls that proof that most Turks do not believe he has an Islamic agenda and he has vowed time and again to remain loyal to Turkey's secular constitution if elected. | He calls that proof that most Turks do not believe he has an Islamic agenda and he has vowed time and again to remain loyal to Turkey's secular constitution if elected. |
| Mr Gul is widely expected to become president by the third round later this month, when a candidate only needs to secure a simple majority of votes - which the AKP has - but that could herald tense times ahead. | Mr Gul is widely expected to become president by the third round later this month, when a candidate only needs to secure a simple majority of votes - which the AKP has - but that could herald tense times ahead. |
| The military will be watching for his slightest slip, and there is already furious debate because Mrs Gul wears the Islamic headscarf. | The military will be watching for his slightest slip, and there is already furious debate because Mrs Gul wears the Islamic headscarf. |
| It is seen by some as a symbol of political Islam and is banned in all state institutions here, including the presidential palace. | It is seen by some as a symbol of political Islam and is banned in all state institutions here, including the presidential palace. |