Turkey's Erdogan pledges new constitutionPublished 08:45 a.m., Saturday, April 16, 2011ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's prime minister says his government will write a new constitution that will strengthen democracy and freedoms, if re-elected in June. Turkey's current constitution, introduced under military rule in 1982, has clauses that restrict some political rights and freedoms, including free speech or minority rights. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday the new constitution would "support democracy and freedoms." He was introducing his ruling, Islam-based party's manifesto before the June 12 elections. Opinion polls show Erdogan's party is the front-runner in the elections, although it is not clear if it would gain sufficient seats in parliament to change the constitution alone. The pro-secular opposition party fears a constitution by Erdogan's party may erode Turkey's secular system. Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Turkey-s-Erdogan-pledges-new-constitution-1339971.php#ixzz1Jsz9VUTU © 2011 Hearst Communications Inc. |