Monday, July 23, 2007

Gamble pays off for Islamist PM

"Gamble pays off for Islamist PM

Pragmatic Erdogan faces major challenges in deeply divided nation
Jul 23, 2007 04:30 AM
Paul de Bendern
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY

ANKARA–Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has achieved what few Turkish politicians would have dreamed possible only a few years ago – securing the re-election of a party with roots in political Islam.

Just 10 years ago the army removed from power a party it deemed too Islamist for a country whose secular system the military is duty-bound to defend under the constitution."

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