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Turkish leader to review cabinet Turkish leader approves cabinet
(about 5 hours later)
New Turkish President Abdullah Gul is to review a proposed new cabinet, submitted by his former boss, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. New Turkish President Abdullah Gul has approved a cabinet submitted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Islamist-rooted AK Party.
Mr Gul on Tuesday became the first politician with an Islamist background to become president since the secular Turkish state was created in 1923. The new cabinet is said to unite secular and Islamic-minded politicians.
His candidacy sparked street protests and a warning from the military that Turkey's secularism was under threat. The AK party won a huge majority in July polls triggered by a row over its plans to nominate Mr Gul as president.
The new cabinet is expected to unite Islamic and secular-minded politicians. Mr Gul, a former Islamist, was elected president on Tuesday amid warnings from the powerful military of a threat to Turkey's deeply secular constitution.
The prime minister was expected to submit a list of new ministers to Mr Gul on Wednesday afternoon. The presidency - like the military - has traditionally been a bastion of secularism in Turkey.
The president, who was foreign minister in the previous AK Party cabinet, has the right to veto the 24-member cabinet. Mr Gul ratified Mr Erdogan's cabinet when the two men met on Wednesday afternoon in Ankara.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his government will respect the separation of religion and state enshrined in Turkey's constitution. Prime Minister Erdogan has said his government will respect the separation of religion and state enshrined in Turkey's constitution.
Opposition parties will be studying whether his choice of cabinet members lives up to this promise. Opposition parties are expected to examine whether his choice of cabinet members lives up to this promise.
Mr Gul was sworn in on Tuesday after a third round of voting in parliament, which he won by a clear majority.
Mr Gul took his oath at a ceremony in parliament, pledging loyalty to democracy and to the secular Republic.
"As long as I am in office, I will embrace all our citizens without any bias," he said.
Boost for EU talksBoost for EU talks
The European Union welcomed Mr Gul's election, calling it a positive step in the country's campaign to join the bloc. Mr Gul, a foreign minister in the previous AK Party government, established himself as a skilled diplomat by steering Turkey towards European Union entry talks.
Mr Gul's wife has been criticised for wearing the headscarf Profile: Abdullah Gul Q&A: Presidency battle Turkish press reaction Send us your reactionMr Gul's wife has been criticised for wearing the headscarf Profile: Abdullah Gul Q&A: Presidency battle Turkish press reaction Send us your reaction
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said the election was "an opportunity to give fresh, immediate and positive impetus to the accession process to the European Union through progress in a number of key areas". He is the first politician with an Islamist background to become president since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded modern Turkey as a secular, Western-oriented state in 1923.
Turkey was made a candidate for EU membership in October 2005, but the talks are blocked on a number of fronts. He was sworn in on Tuesday after a third round of voting in parliament, which he won by a clear majority.
He took his oath at a ceremony in parliament, pledging loyalty to democracy and to the secular Republic.
"As long as I am in office, I will embrace all our citizens without any bias," he said.
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 headscarf is currently banned from public institutions in Turkey, but Mr Gul has said wearing it is a matter of personal choice.The headscarf is currently banned from public institutions in Turkey, but Mr Gul has said wearing it is a matter of personal choice.
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. The European Union welcomed Mr Gul's election, calling it a positive step in the country's campaign to join the bloc.
Turkey was made a candidate for EU membership in October 2005, but the talks are blocked on a number of fronts.
Military anxietyMilitary 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.
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.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.
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.
In April, the army expressed its concern after Mr Gul only narrowly failed to gain enough support from MPs to become president.In April, the army expressed its concern after Mr Gul only narrowly failed to gain enough support from MPs to become president.
Secularist politicians also organised mass demonstrations by their supporters in an effort to block Mr Gul's presidential bid.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 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.