Gul Fails in First Round of Turkey's MPs Vote

World | April 28, 2007, Saturday // 00:00
Gul Fails in First Round of Turkey's MPs Vote Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was nominated as the country's ruling AK party's presidential nominee. Photo by WN

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who was nominated as the country's ruling AK party's presidential nominee, failed to win in the first round of voting at parliament, BBC reported.

Gul secured 357 votes - just 10 short of the 367, or two thirds of all deputies needed to secure a victory in the first round.

The main secular opposition party boycotted the vote and said it would challenge the election in court.

Gul is seen as a compromise candidate and less confrontational than Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, whom AK initially was expected to put forth as its candidate.

The party has its roots in political Islam, a worrying factor for the secular camp in the country.

Following the disputed vote by MPs, the army said it would defend Turkey's secular system.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn was quick to warn the controversy was a test case for the military to respect democracy.

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