Turkish gov't considers early general elections

    ANKARA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said here Tuesday that Turkish government is considering early general elections as soon as possible.

    Cicek made this announcement after Turkey's Constitutional Court annulled a presidential vote dominated by concerns over the rising profile of political Islam. Full story

Turkey's parliamentary board to hold meeting for repeat of presidential elections

    ANKARA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's Parliamentary Consultative Board (PCB) will hold a meeting on Wednesday for the repeat of the first round of the presidential elections, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.

    Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc Tuesday called on the PCB board to hold the meeting at local time 11.00 a.m. (GMT 0800) Wednesday, said the report. Full story

More than 100 protesters detained in demonstrations in Istanbul

    ANKARA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Tuesday detained about 100 protesters who were trying to march to Istanbul's Taksim square to mark the 30th anniversary of a deadly May Day rally, local CNN TURK reported.

    The report said that the police fired tear gas canisters to prevent hundreds of leftist protesters heading from Dolmabahce Street to the Taksim square. Full story

Turkey PM calls for domestic stability and peace

    ANKARA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan here Monday called on the whole nation to maintain stability and peace in the wake of disputes between his government and the opposition over the presidential elections.

    Erdogan made the call in a televised address to the nation after the first round of the presidential elections on Friday, in which Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party, failed to garner the required two-thirds majority of 367 votes. Full story

Demonstrators rally in Turkey in defense of secular republic

    ANKARA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Rallies supported by 600 non-governmental organizations were held in Turkish capital Ankara and largest city of Istanbul on Sunday to show their support for the country's secular system.

    Carrying Turkish flags, the demonstrators shouted slogans to protect the country's secularism and principles of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Full story

Turkish FM says not to retreat from presidential elections

    ANKARA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, presidential candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said here Sunday that he would not retreat from the elections.

    Gul, who failed to win the first round of voting at parliament Friday, told a news conference that they are waiting for the decision to be made by the Constitutional Court over the dispute emerged in the elections.  Full story

Turkey's ruling party announces presidential candidate

     ANKARA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) announced Tuesday its decision to nominate Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as its candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections.

    The decision was announced at its parliamentary group meeting in Ankara.  Full story