Turkey opposition urges compromise over president

ANKARA, July 27 (Reuters) Turkey's main opposition party urged the re-elected AK Party government today to compromise in a bitter row over the country's next president amid signs that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul may again seek the top job.

The staunchly secularist Republican People's Party (CHP) is opposed to Gul, an ex-Islamist, becoming head of state, but the AK Party may now re-submit the soft-spoken diplomat for the job following its big win in last Sunday's parliamentary election.

''What is important is whether (Prime Minister Tayyip) Erdogan will seek cooperation and compromise (over the presidency),'' CHP leader Deniz Baykal told a news conference. Turkey's financial markets have fallen this week in part on fears of fresh tensions over the presidency between Erdogan's government and the secular establishment, which includes army generals and top judges as well as some opposition parties.

The CHP boycotted an earlier vote in parliament on Gul's candidacy back in May, forcing Erdogan to call a parliamentary election four months ahead of schedule to defuse the crisis.

''We will take part in the voting in parliament (on a new president) this time if a joint name is found,'' said Baykal, whose party is still the second biggest in the assembly despite a disappointing performance in Sunday's election.

The secularists object to Gul because of his Islamist past and his wife wearing the Muslim headscarf. His supporters say Gul, who speaks English and is an architect of Ankara's European Union membership bid, would make a good president.

Erdogan has said he wants to avoid further tensions with the secular elite over the presidency, but Gul signalled on Wednesday he remains his party's candidate for the top job.

Gul's chances have improved after an ultra-nationalist party said it would attend the presidential election in parliament, allowing the AK Party to secure a quorum for the vote.

Gul, who as president would be commander-in-chief of the armed forces and would have powers to appoint top judges and university rectors, denies having any Islamist agenda.

Baykal has previously urged Erdogan to choose a non-party candidate from outside the parliament. Erdogan insists the new president must come from his own AK Party ranks in parliament.

REUTERS GT KP1820