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Secular rally targets Turkish PM Secular rally targets Turkish PM
(about 3 hours later)
Tens of thousands of people are gathering in Turkey's capital Ankara for a rally in support of secularism. Tens of thousands people have gathered in Turkey's capital Ankara for a rally in support of secularism.
The rally comes two days before the presidential election process begins and is intended to pressure current PM Recip Tayyip Erdogan not to stand.The rally comes two days before the presidential election process begins and is intended to pressure current PM Recip Tayyip Erdogan not to stand.
His opponents accuse him of having an Islamic agenda - a charge he denies.His opponents accuse him of having an Islamic agenda - a charge he denies.
They are marching on the mausoleum of the country's most revered leader, Kemal Ataturk, who founded the Turkish republic as a secular state. The protest is taking place near the mausoleum of the country's most revered leader, Kemal Ataturk, who founded the Turkish republic as a secular state.
Turkish NTV television said around 80,000 people were taking part, with up to 150,000 expected. Police said more than 20,000 were attending. I feel a little scared about the developments - I would not like to have an Islamic state in Turkey NurselProtester Tens of thousands of people were brought to the capital by bus for the protest.
They were marching through the streets carrying red flags and chanting anti-Islamic slogans, media reports said. The square near the mausoleum was jam-packed with people, many of them draped in red-and-white flags and chanting anti-Islamic slogans.
There has been increasing speculation that Mr Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party will nominate him as its candidate to replace the current president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who steps down in May. "Turkey is secular and will remain secular forever," they shouted.
Islamic state fears
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Ankara says the demonstrators are mainly middle class and highly educated people.
"I feel a little scared about the developments. I would not like to have an Islamic regime in Turkey," one demonstrator, who gave her name as Nursel, told the BBC.
"I would like to protect the secular system. That's why I am here. Especially as a female, this is very important for me."
Mr Erdogan says he will uphold Ataturk's valuesThere has been increasing speculation that Mr Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party will nominate him as its candidate to replace the current president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who steps down in May.
If nominated, he would be almost certain to be elected by parliament, where his party has a healthy majority.If nominated, he would be almost certain to be elected by parliament, where his party has a healthy majority.
Correspondents say that despite the large turnout at the rally the secular establishment, including the army, has no real power to prevent Mr Erdogan from winning.
In five years in power, Mr Erdogan's government has overseen a wide range of democratic reforms.In five years in power, Mr Erdogan's government has overseen a wide range of democratic reforms.
However, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Ankara says that critics point to earlier attempts to criminalise adultery and appoint an Islamic central banker as signs of things to come. However, our correspondent says that critics point to earlier attempts to criminalise adultery and appoint an Islamic central banker as signs of things to come.
Mr Sezer warned in a speech on Friday that the threat to Turkey of Islamic radicalism was stronger than ever.