Armed forces miffed about facing trial in civilian courts

Istanbul: Turkey's armed forces say a law under which army personnel will be tried in civilian courts in peacetime rather than military ones is unconstitutional and they have told the president so, media reported on Sunday.

The legislation, aimed at meeting European Union membership criteria, has fuelled tensions between the powerful secularist military and the Islamist-rooted AK Party government in predominantly Muslim Turkey.

"Politics will enter the barracks," said a front-page headline in the Milliyet newspaper which detailed the military General Staff's objections to the law, which has still to be approved by President Abdullah Gul.

The army, the second biggest in Nato, has ousted four Turkish governments in 50 years and regards itself as guardian of the country's secular system. However, its power has been reined in by democratic reforms in recent years.

According to the military, the law infringes the inviolability of military areas and will lead to clashes between the military and civilian judiciary.

The military also voiced concern at the way the legislation was passed in a late-night session at the end of June after defence ministry officials had left the assembly.

President Gul has been consulting with the government, military and judiciary on the law before deciding whether to approve it ahead of a July 10 deadline. If he does not, he can send the legislation back to parliament for further debate.

"In this case, some circles close to the government may object that democratisation steps are being obstructed," said Radikal newspaper columnist Murat Yetkin.