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4/30/07

BBC NEWS: Turkish PM makes appeal for unity

For the complete report from the BBC NEWS clickon this link

Turkish PM makes appeal for unity

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appealed for national unity in the row that has erupted over the disputed election of a new president.Mr Erdogan's ruling Islamist-rooted AK party has put forward Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul for president. But the army has hinted it may block him.

As many as one million people marched through Istanbul on Sunday, opposing Mr Gul. They were supporters of Turkey's secular values.

The president is traditionally a key upholder of the country's separation of religion and state. Mr Gul has Islamist roots, and his wife wears the headscarf, which is very controversial in Turkey and banned from universities and public offices.

Turkey's currency and stock market have tumbled amid fears the army may intervene, which could undermine the country's attempts to join the European Union.

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