ANKARA Turkey's Islamist Prime Minister, Mr Necmettin Erbakan, stepped down yesterday to allow his key conservative ally, Ms Tansu Ciller, to assume the premiership.
Mr Erbakan's resignation ends a turbulent 12 months in power during which he enraged the military and some western allies. "I have tendered my resignation to President Suleyman Demirel," Mr Erbakan told reporters after a meeting at the presidential palace. "I have presented the president with a joint declaration by three parties in support of Ciller's prime ministry," Mr Erbakan said. Mr Demirel's office said the President had accepted Mr Erbakan's resignation.
The three groups are his coalition government partners, the proIslamic Welfare Party, Ms Ciller's conservative True Path Party, and the allied extreme right wing Grand Union Party.
Mr Erbakan said Mr Demirel would first meet opposition leaders today. Mr Demirel is expected to meet the main opposition conservative leader, Mr Mesut Yilmaz, and the leaders of two leftwing opposition parties.