TURKEY: Turkish unions and professional groups protested yesterday against a government decision to contribute troops to a UN force in Lebanon ahead of expected approval of the deployment in parliament today.
Government enthusiasm for the move is seen as a reflection of its wish to become a powerbroker in the Middle East, but many Turks oppose contributing to a force they believe will primarily serve US and Israeli interests.
Police detained five members of a leftist association who chained themselves to the gates of a military compound opposite parliament, while another group of leftists donned red-stained shrouds in a demonstration near the prime minister's office.
"We call on mothers, fathers . . . and all those who don't want soldiers coming back in coffins to shout out 'no to the motion' which will drag us into a Middle East swamp," said a joint statement by unions and professional groups.
Protests are expected to gather pace today.
The United States, Israel and Lebanon have urged Nato member Turkey to take part in the force.
"I guess that this will not be a force more than 1,000 soldiers. I cannot give a definite number because duty areas are not certain yet," foreign minister Abdullah Gul told Turkish TV.
The force, known as Unifil II, will deploy in southern Lebanon after a truce halted Israel's 34-day war with Hizbullah on August 14th.
"This is an opportunity for the [ ruling] AK Party, and particularly prime minister Erdogan, to strengthen its influence in the Middle East," a senior European Union diplomat said.
But Mr Erdogan does not want troops to come into conflict with Hizbullah as it would hurt the AK Party's conservative base ahead of general elections next year, he said.
Mr Erdogan said at the weekend Turkish troops would pull out if asked to disarm Hizbullah.
EU membership candidate Turkey is a largely Muslim country with a secular constitutional system, and has close ties with both Arab states and Israel.
"Sending troops to Lebanon will also boost Turkey's EU accession talks process, it will show the need to have Muslim Turkey inside the EU rather than outside," the diplomat said.
A vote is expected today in a special session called during parliament's summer recess.
The ruling AK Party, which has roots in political Islam, has 355 deputies in the 550-member house and is expected to maintain a relatively united front on the issue.