April 17, 2007 - 19:05 AMT
Still there is no decision by Erdogan over his candidature for presidential post
"In the current circumstances there exist a certain risk in connection with my candidature for the presidential post. We will not take the risk," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan stated. He said, the final decision over nominating his candidature will be made after consultations with political forces of Turkey. Erdogan's decision came after a rally of 300,000 protesters in Ankara, who protested against country's islamization that Erdogan and his "Justice and development" party lead to. Today the Prime Minister met with leaders of parliamentarian opposition, Turkish media reports.

On April 16 the process of proposing candidature for the presidential post launched in Turkey. Elections will be hold in the parliament May 22. The time for registration expires April 25 and the Prime Minister stated he will give his final answer till that period. Beginning from April 26 within 20 days deputies of Turkish Grand National Assembly must elect the next president of the country. The current President Ahmed Necdet Sezer is follower of Kemalism, who protect principles of secular state.