Turkish parliament cancels presidential election

ANKARA, May 9 (Reuters) Turkey's parliament officially halted today a presidential election process that triggered a major political crisis and forced the Islamist-rooted government to call early national polls.

The parliament accepted Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's petition to withdraw from the presidential contest, in which he had been the sole candidate. Gul's withdrawal became inevitable after he failed to win enough backing from the assembly.

A new parliament will now elect a president after the July 22 general election. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who had been due to retire on May 16, will stay on as interim head of state until his successor can be chosen.

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