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Turkey set to elect new president | Turkey set to elect new president |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to be elected as president amid warnings from the military not to undermine the secular constitution. | Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to be elected as president amid warnings from the military not to undermine the secular constitution. |
Mr Gul, a former Islamist, is set to become the next head of state in a parliamentary poll on Tuesday. | Mr Gul, a former Islamist, is set to become the next head of state in a parliamentary poll on Tuesday. |
The ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party candidate has vowed to remain loyal to the republic's strict secular values. | The ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party candidate has vowed to remain loyal to the republic's strict secular values. |
The vote comes after Turkey's armed forces chief warned "centres of evil" were trying to undermine the state. | The vote comes after Turkey's armed forces chief warned "centres of evil" were trying to undermine the state. |
Gen Yasar Buyukanit did not name those he said were "trying to corrode the secular nature of the Turkish Republic." | Gen Yasar Buyukanit did not name those he said were "trying to corrode the secular nature of the Turkish Republic." |
But analysts said the statement was clearly aimed at Mr Gul, a devout Muslim. | But analysts said the statement was clearly aimed at Mr Gul, a devout Muslim. |
Political crisis | Political crisis |
The army, which sees itself as the guardian of Turkey's secularism, has ousted four governments in the past 60 years. | The army, which sees itself as the guardian of Turkey's secularism, has ousted four governments in the past 60 years. |
It was the second warning issued by the military in recent months. | It was the second warning issued by the military in recent months. |
Mr Gul's wife has been criticised for wearing the headscarf Profile: Abdullah Gul Q&A: Presidency battle | |
In April, the army expressed its concern after Mr Gul only narrowly failed to gain enough support from MPs to become president in a first round. | In April, the army expressed its concern after Mr Gul only narrowly failed to gain enough support from MPs to become president in a first round. |
The following stand-off between the AKP and secularist parties in parliament triggered a political crisis that led to snap elections in July. | The following stand-off between the AKP and secularist parties in parliament triggered a political crisis that led to snap elections in July. |
The AKP won those polls convincingly, and again nominated Mr Gul for the post of president. | The AKP won those polls convincingly, and again nominated Mr Gul for the post of president. |
He failed to gather enough votes in the first two rounds but is expected to be elected in the third round on Tuesday. | He failed to gather enough votes in the first two rounds but is expected to be elected in the third round on Tuesday. |
Mr Gul, who has established himself as a skilled diplomat by steering Turkey towards European Union entry talks, has pledged to be a ruler for all Turks. | Mr Gul, who has established himself as a skilled diplomat by steering Turkey towards European Union entry talks, has pledged to be a ruler for all Turks. |
But Turkey's military and secular establishment suspect he might harbour a secret Islamist agenda. | But Turkey's military and secular establishment suspect he might harbour a secret Islamist agenda. |
There is alarm at the prospect of a woman, his wife, wearing the Islamic headscarf in the Cankaya presidential palace. | There is alarm at the prospect of a woman, his wife, wearing the Islamic headscarf in the Cankaya presidential palace. |
The founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, banished religious influence from public life when he founded the modern Western-style republic on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. | The founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, banished religious influence from public life when he founded the modern Western-style republic on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. |