After a landslide election win for Islamists in Turkish elections on Sunday, the leader of the pro-Islamic Justice and Development Party said he opposes a war against Iraq unless it is approved by the United Nations - a similar attitude to that of outgoing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.
"We do not want war, blood, tears and dead in our region," Justice party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, adding, "We are obliged by the United Nations' decisions."
With almost 100 per cent of the election ballots counted, unofficial results put the Justice and Development Party well ahead with 34.1 per cent, followed by the center-left Republican People's Party (CHP) with 19.2 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph reported Monday that enforced mobilization of up to 10,000 reservists would be declared by the British Government this week in preparation for a war on Iraq. A Queen's Order will give defense chiefs widespread rights to call up many more people than would normally be available.
Senior officers from all the units involved have been summoned to a meeting at the Ministry of Defense Monday to be briefed on the mass mobilization.
The Order, which has to be signed by the Queen, will ensure that the Armed Forces have the largest possible pool of reservists to call upon. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
