Bulent Ecevit

Former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, a political force in Turkey for almost half a century who ordered the invasion of Cyprus and later pushed his country toward the West, died Sunday. He was 81. Ecevit died of circulatory and respiratory problems at Ankara's GATA military hospital after nearly six months in a coma following a stroke, the hospital said in a statement.

Former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, a political force in Turkey for almost half a century who ordered the invasion of Cyprus and later pushed his country toward the West, died Sunday. He was 81. Ecevit died of circulatory and respiratory problems at Ankara's GATA military hospital after nearly six months in a coma following a stroke, the hospital said in a statement.

"Welcome, welcome, our brave prime minister!" chanted thousands of Turks assembled for a recent campaign rally in this Mediterranean resort city. "Let the ones who don't love you die!" The man they came to hear is an unlikely hero. Bulent Ecevit, 73, was often dismissed as a political has-been when the top government job fell into his lap three months ago after a bribery scandal brought down his predecessor.

As a top U.S. defense official held talks here on a possible military strike against Iraq, such planning was complicated Tuesday when the political parties in the rapidly unraveling government of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit agreed to hold early elections. The ailing Ecevit had fiercely resisted calls to move parliamentary elections up from 2004 to November, but his hand was forced when further defections from his party reduced the government to controlling half the seats in parliament.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said his three-way coalition was unshaken by a severe defeat in parliament and would continue working for economic reforms. The left-of-center premier had put his reputation on the line to secure a constitutional amendment that would have given President Suleyman Demirel a chance at a second term. "Despite the failure to realize changes to the constitution, we give great importance to economic and political stability," Ecevit said in a statement.

Prime Minister-designate Bulent Ecevit warned political rivals that his failure to form a government probably will return the Islamist opposition to power. He predicted that the collapse of his talks with bickering parliamentary rivals over forming a coalition government could bring back the Islamists, who were forced out of power 18 months ago by the powerful military.

A week after Turkey's government collapsed, the president asked a center-left political veteran to form a new administration. Ex-Premier Bulent Ecevit, 73, who leads the fourth-largest party in parliament, would head Turkey's fifth government since 1995, which will face the prospect of being dissolved after parliamentary elections in less than five months.

A top judge who is an outspoken advocate of democratic reforms stands to become Turkey's next president after party leaders in parliament unanimously backed his candidacy Tuesday. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit won the unprecedented all-party support for Ahmet Necdet Sezer to succeed President Suleyman Demirel when Demirel steps down in May.

Ending the nation's nearly seven-week quest for a new government, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel on Monday approved a Cabinet led by veteran leftist politician Bulent Ecevit, who became prime minister for the fourth time in more than 20 years. Ecevit, 73, was assured of winning a parliamentary vote of confidence Sunday after his predecessor, Mesut Yilmaz, and a conservative leader, Tansu Ciller, pledged their parties' support.

As a top U.S. defense official held talks here on a possible military strike against Iraq, such planning was complicated Tuesday when the political parties in the rapidly unraveling government of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit agreed to hold early elections. The ailing Ecevit had fiercely resisted calls to move parliamentary elections up from 2004 to November, but his hand was forced when further defections from his party reduced the government to controlling half the seats in parliament.

This country's fragile coalition government teetered on the brink of collapse Monday after three Cabinet ministers and 20 lawmakers bolted from the party led by ailing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The defections are likely to undermine Turkey's efforts to carry out wide-ranging reforms that the European Union has demanded as a precondition for launching membership talks and to stall efforts to end a crippling recession.

A top judge who is an outspoken advocate of democratic reforms stands to become Turkey's next president after party leaders in parliament unanimously backed his candidacy Tuesday. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit won the unprecedented all-party support for Ahmet Necdet Sezer to succeed President Suleyman Demirel when Demirel steps down in May.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said his three-way coalition was unshaken by a severe defeat in parliament and would continue working for economic reforms. The left-of-center premier had put his reputation on the line to secure a constitutional amendment that would have given President Suleyman Demirel a chance at a second term. "Despite the failure to realize changes to the constitution, we give great importance to economic and political stability," Ecevit said in a statement.

"Welcome, welcome, our brave prime minister!" chanted thousands of Turks assembled for a recent campaign rally in this Mediterranean resort city. "Let the ones who don't love you die!" The man they came to hear is an unlikely hero. Bulent Ecevit, 73, was often dismissed as a political has-been when the top government job fell into his lap three months ago after a bribery scandal brought down his predecessor.

Hoping to drive a wedge between the United States and a key ally, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz instead came away empty-handed from a much-heralded meeting here Monday with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Emerging from nearly three hours of talks with the new leftist premier, Aziz said, "We discussed our legitimate concerns in a friendly manner."

Ending the nation's nearly seven-week quest for a new government, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel on Monday approved a Cabinet led by veteran leftist politician Bulent Ecevit, who became prime minister for the fourth time in more than 20 years. Ecevit, 73, was assured of winning a parliamentary vote of confidence Sunday after his predecessor, Mesut Yilmaz, and a conservative leader, Tansu Ciller, pledged their parties' support.

Hoping to drive a wedge between the United States and a key ally, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz instead came away empty-handed from a much-heralded meeting here Monday with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Emerging from nearly three hours of talks with the new leftist premier, Aziz said, "We discussed our legitimate concerns in a friendly manner."

This hinterland capital is the kind of town where a taxi driver from the airport meanders fitfully in search of Ankara's only five-star hotel, open a few weeks, while a taxi driver from the hotel gets lost seeking the new headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, open a few months. Ankara's bustle is Turkey's hustle. Things are moving, but not everybody's sure the direction is right.

Prime Minister-designate Bulent Ecevit warned political rivals that his failure to form a government probably will return the Islamist opposition to power. He predicted that the collapse of his talks with bickering parliamentary rivals over forming a coalition government could bring back the Islamists, who were forced out of power 18 months ago by the powerful military.

A week after Turkey's government collapsed, the president asked a center-left political veteran to form a new administration. Ex-Premier Bulent Ecevit, 73, who leads the fourth-largest party in parliament, would head Turkey's fifth government since 1995, which will face the prospect of being dissolved after parliamentary elections in less than five months.