Army to confront Erbakan

ANKARA Turkey's chief of staff, Gen Ismail Hakki Karadayi, said yesterday the army would keep out of politics despite its public…

ANKARA Turkey's chief of staff, Gen Ismail Hakki Karadayi, said yesterday the army would keep out of politics despite its public opposition to the policies of the Islamist led government. Gen Karadayi said the army - which has ousted three civilian governments since 1960 was watching political developments closely and demanded parliament act to resolve the political deadlock gripping Ankara.

The army leadership is expected to confront the Prime Minister, Mr Necmettin Erbakan, at a meeting of the National Security Council today with his failure to implement an anti Islamist crackdown demanded by the military two months ago.