This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6604643.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Huge rally for Turkish secularism | Huge rally for Turkish secularism |
| (20 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. |
| 'Test case' | 'Test case' |
| Sunday's "Republican Meeting", planned by dozens of non-governmental organisations, took place in Caglayan Square in Istanbul. | |
| TURKISH ARMY INTERVENTIONS Coups in 1960, 1971 and 1980 Forced out first Islamist prime minister in 1997 | |
| "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. | |
| Many sang nationalist songs and called for the government's resignation. | |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford describes the rally as an enormous show of force. More than 300,000 people attended a similar event two weeks ago. | |
| On Saturday, Cemil Cicek, spokesman for the ruling party, the Islamist-rooted AK (Justice and Development), responded to the unusually forthright army statement. | On Saturday, Cemil Cicek, spokesman for the ruling party, the Islamist-rooted AK (Justice and Development), responded to the 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," said Mr Cicek, who is also justice minister. | |
| The European Union warned the army not to interfere in politics, saying the controversy was a test case for the military to respect democracy. | The European Union warned the army not to interfere in politics, saying the controversy was a test case for the military to respect democracy. |
| Our correspondent says the army is sending a signal that it will not accept Mr Gul's candidacy. | |
| Mr Cicek told reporters that the government had the "primary duty in protecting the basic tenets of the state". | Mr Cicek told reporters that the government had the "primary duty in protecting the basic tenets of the state". |
| 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. |