Court to consider fate of ruling party, leaders

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By Andrew Borowiec

NICOSIA, Cyprus | Turkey's balancing act between Islam and secularism goes on trial Tuesday when the Constitutional Court takes up an indictment to outlaw the ruling party and slap a five-year ban from politics on the prime minister and president

A government proposal to let girls wear head scarves in school - struck down by the courts - triggered the indictment against the ruling party and its top officials.

A 160-page indictment accuses the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) of violating the constitution and of trying to turn Turkey, a secular democracy, into an Islamic state.

The prosecutor is also seeking a five-year ban from politics for 71 party members, including President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The trial reflects a longtime conflict between hard-line secular forces backed by the influential army and the growing ranks of those who feel that moderate Islam anddemocracy are compatible.

The Bush administration, though it generally avoids comment on political disputes in other countries, says it is uncomfortable with events in Turkey.

"It would be quite unfortunate if the way a political debate is resolved is through banning a party," Matthew Bryza, deputy assistant secretary of State for European affairs told the Washington Institute for Near East Policy last week.

"Turkey's democratic system, its constitutional order is evolving," he said. "It's up to Turkey to work that out. It's not appropriate for the United States to set any ultimata, threats. We really are confident that the Turkish democratic system is strong enough to work this out."

Last month, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said that the Turkish courts should "consider the will of the people in making their decision."

Since it was set up in 1963, the 11-judge Constitutional Court has outlawed 24 parties. Members of two of those parties form the bulk of Mr. Erdogan's AKP.