ANKARA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish army on Friday said in a statement that it was watching the presidential voting in parliamentary with concern following the first-round of the ballot, warning against arguments that question the country's secularism.

    "The Turkish armed forces are watching this (election) of a new president with concern," the General Staff said in a statement issued late Friday, adding that the military is the ultimate defender of secularism.

    "The Turkish Armed Forces are definitely opposed to those arguments and negative comments. It (the army) will display its attitude and action openly and clearly whenever it is necessary. No one should doubt that," the General Staff said.

    Earlier in the day, the Turkish Parliament failed to elect the country's new president in the first round of presidential voting.

    Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, candidate of the Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), received 357 votes, 10 votes short of the 367 majority required in the 550-seat parliament.

    Turkey's secularists fear that if Gul becomes the next president of the country, the AKP will be able to implement an Islamic agenda without any opposition.

    "It is observed that some circles who have been carrying out endless efforts to disturb fundamental values of the Republic of Turkey, especially secularism, have given rise to their efforts recently," the statement said.

    The main opposition secularist Republican People's Party (CHP),which decided to boycott the ballot, on Friday applied to the Constitutional Court to annul the presidential vote since the parliament convened with less than 367 lawmakers to elect the new president. However, the ruling party insists only one-third of lawmakers are needed.

    If the court upholds the CHP's appeal, a general election will be called within 90 days.