Turkey’s Gul withdraws candidacy

Abdullah Gul, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, withdrew his nomination for the post of President, 6 May 2007, after failing to win parliamentary backing.

Subsequently, Turkey’s Islamist-rooted government scored a decisive victory, 10 May 2007, over its secular opponents after it secured parliamentary backing for contentious constitutional changes, including proposals to make the election of the President subject to a vote by the Turkish public.

BBC News, 6.5.07: New Turkey president poll fails http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6629305.stm

BBC News, 7.5.07: First step for Turkey reform plan http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6632573.stm

BBC News, 10.5.07: Turkey MPs back president reform http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6641381.stm

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