Turkish vote: Faced with the inevitability of a war on its southern border, Turkey's government has dramatically accelerated plans to vote again on a Bill that would permit US troops into the country
"The government has evaluated the situation and has decided to take urgent steps to preserve its national interests", a spokesman said after a crisis meeting of senior ministers and senior military officials.
The only surprising thing about the announcement was its tardiness. Ankara had remained silent throughout the weekend, despite repeated warnings from Washington that a multi-billion-dollar aid package and Turkish plans for a military presence in northern Iraq were both at stake.
But reality seemed to catch up with Turkey's week-old Justice and Development Party (AKP) government on Monday, when the country's markets slumped by over 10 per cent and the Turkish lira lost 2 per cent against the dollar.
For the Ankara bureau chief of the newspaper Hurriyet, Mr Sedat Ergin, the Bush administration's decision to bypass the UN also had a part to play in Turkey's volte-face.
"For months, the government had negotiated on the assumption that Turkish co-operation was essential," he says. "But if the UN isn't, why should Turkey be?"
The timing of the new vote will only become clear after an emergency cabinet meeting late last night.
The AKP chief whip, Mr Salih Kapusuz, insisted yesterday that the Bill would most probably be voted on Thursday, but most analysts expect a decision today.
The exact form Turkey's co-operation will take is equally unclear.
But while there has been talk of the government only offering the US overflight rights and use of airbases, it is likely this week's Bill, like the one turned down by parliament on March 1st, will permit deployment of 62,000 ground troops.
"The reason for this is simple," said one Turkish official. "Washington's pledge for an immediate $6 billion loan is only valid if Turkey gives full military co-operation."
Mr Kapusuz's optimism will be bolstered by the news that Turkey's opposition deputies will be given a free vote. The opposition party had voted en masse against the first motion.
Although the Turkish parliament earlier refused to allow deployment to begin, cargo ships in the southern Turkish port of Iskenderun have been unloading logistical equipment for the US 4th Army since the beginning of the month, angering some Turkish ministers.