US urges Turkey to respect constitution, democracy

BRUSSELS, Apr 28 (Reuters) The United States called today for Turkey's democratic constitution to be respected after the military issued a veiled threat to the Islamist-rooted government over its candidate for president.

''We hope and expect that the Turks will work out these political issues in their own way, in a way that's consistent with their secular democracy and constitutional provisions,'' US Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried told Reuters.

Asked whether he would criticise an armed forces statement that the military was watching the presidential election with concern, Fried said in an interview ''We don't take sides.'' ''I can't think of any way I could answer that question explicitly that would do any good,'' he said when pressed to say if the military statement was appropriate.

REUTERS SM BD1646