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Turkish MPs elect Gul president Turkish MPs elect Gul president
(20 minutes later)
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a former Islamist, has been elected president in a parliamentary vote.Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a former Islamist, has been elected president in a parliamentary vote.
He is the first politician with an Islamist background to become head of state since the creation of the deeply secular Turkish Republic in 1923.
Mr Gul was elected in a third round of voting, after months of tension between Turkey's ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party and the secular establishment.Mr Gul was elected in a third round of voting, after months of tension between Turkey's ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party and the secular establishment.
The vote came a day after a new warning from the military about attempts to undermine the secular constitution. On Monday the military warned about threats to the secular constitution.
Mr Gul, whose wife wears a Muslim headscarf, has pledged to respect Turkey's secular institutions.Mr Gul, whose wife wears a Muslim headscarf, has pledged to respect Turkey's secular institutions.
The AKP, which won recent snap polls, needed only a simple majority in the third round of voting. He secured 339 votes in the 550-seat parliament, which is dominated by the AKP, following the party's triumph in an early general election last month. He had needed a simple majority of 276 votes in the third round.
Two earlier rounds after the election had not produced the two-thirds majority that Mr Gul needed.
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.
Military anxiety
Turkey's military chief warned on Monday that "centres of evil" were trying to undermine the state.Turkey's military chief warned on Monday that "centres of evil" were trying to undermine the state.
Mr Gul's wife has been criticised for wearing the headscarf Profile: Abdullah Gul Q&A: Presidency battle
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
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 and respect the country's institutions.
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.
Mr Gul's wife has been criticised for wearing the headscarf Profile: Abdullah Gul Q&A: Presidency battle
It was the second warning issued by the military in recent months.It was the second warning issued by the military in recent months.
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. Secularist politicians also organised mass demonstrations by their supporters in an effort to block Mr Gul's presidential bid.
The stand-off between the AKP and secularist parties triggered a political crisis that led to snap elections in July.
The AKP won those polls convincingly with 47% and again nominated Mr Gul for the post of president.The AKP won those polls convincingly with 47% and again nominated Mr Gul for the post of president.
Turkey's military and secular establishment suspect he might harbour a secret Islamist agenda.Turkey's military and secular establishment suspect he might harbour a secret Islamist agenda.
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.