Mass Resignations Rock Turkey

July 8, 2002

Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister, Husametin Ozkan, and two other ministers have resigned, in a further blow to the beleaguered coalition government of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

They and up to 14 deputies are also reported to have left Mr Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP), depriving it of its position as the largest coalition partner and biggest group in parliament.

Turkey needs new political formations to open the way of politics, which is now deadlocked and passive - Istemihan Talay, resigned culture minister

Doubts have already been voiced about the future of Mr Ecevit, whose poor health has kept him away from office since early May and who has rejected calls to step down.

BBC correspondent Jonny Dymond says that the catalyst for the ministers' resignations seems to have been a call on Sunday for early elections from the leader of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), now the largest coalition partner.

Our correspondent says early elections now seem unavoidable.

Big loss

The ministers' resignations came as the Turkish lira hit an all time low against the dollar.

As well as the deputy prime minister, the Culture Minister, Istemihan Talay, and State Minister Recep Onal, who both belonged to Mr Ecevit's DSP, resigned.

Mr Talay told local media that the number of resignations "could increase".

"Turkey needs new political formations... to open the way of politics, which is now deadlocked and passive," he said.

Correspondents say Mr Ozkan - who always preferred to keep a low profile - had been the prime minister's key ally and possible successor.

He reportedly acted as a mediator, resolving disputes over economic reforms with other parties.

He was also said to have the ear of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and to be close to conservative sectors in the coalition.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_2116000/2116542.stm