Turkish MPs back key election reform plan - TV

ANKARA, May 7 (Reuters) Turkey's parliament approved today, in a first reading, a major constitutional amendment under which the country's president would be elected directly by the public instead of by lawmakers, Turkish media reported.

Private broadcaster CNN Turk said 356 deputies voted for the reform, part of a package which must be debated and approved a second time before it can be sent to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for him to sign it into law. Many commentators expect Sezer or the courts to block the proposals.

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