International   

Turkey vote annulled

ANKARA: Turkey's highest court on Tuesday annulled a presidential vote that had been dominated by concerns about the rising profile of political Islam, opening the way for possible early general elections. The ruling was issued after the Opposition boycotted the vote on Friday, and after huge protests by hundreds of thousands of pro-secular Turks against the Islamist-rooted government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The decision represents a setback for the Government, which had hoped to strengthen its authority with the election of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to the presidency. Governing party figures have said they were considering early general elections to defuse tensions with the military-backed secular establishment. Media reports said the Government planned an announcement later on Tuesday. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Al-Qaeda head in Iraq killed?
Maoists firm on republic
Blasts rock Dhaka, two other cities
Cracks in Olmert Cabinet
U.S., E.U. sign pact to open skies
Fresh calls for inquiry into London bombings
"DC Madam" to expose elite client list
Turkey vote annulled
Plea for vote rejected
U.N. for Somalia truce
Two held for raising funds for LTTE
SLFP for parliamentary model
Terrorism: U.S. report praises India for successes last year
Sri Lankan team to return home via India
India, Pakistan to hold talks on Sir Creek later this month
Anti-terror initiative on IPU agenda
India, U.S. hold talks on 123 agreement
Ties with India deeper, says Iran

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu