Ailing Ecevit 'to attend meeting'

Analysts fear Ecevit's resignation could lead to a government crisis

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit plans to attend a meeting of political leaders on Friday, despite his ailing health.

Speculation has been rising that 77-year-old Ecevit may have to resign because of illness that led to two hospital stays in May.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has called a summit of political leaders on Friday to discuss Turkey's progress towards European Union membership. Ecevit was expected to attend the meeting, said his spokesman, Cev Avci.

Financial markets are nervous about the prime minister's health because of fears a possible early election could upset a $16 billion IMF economic recovery plan for Turkey.

The prime minister was forced to miss a crucial meeting of Turkey's top military-civilian National Security Council last week because doctors said he was not well enough to sit through such a long meeting.

Weekend newspapers made renewed calls for his resignation, saying a host of ailments were preventing him from doing his job.

Doctors who gave Ecevit his daily check-up on Monday left without making any statements about his health.

He has been suffering from blood clots in his left leg as well as a broken rib and a muscular-nervous problem. Ecevit spent a night in the hospital on May 4 for intestinal problems and was released the next day.

He was readmitted to hospital on May 17 for the second time in a fortnight after apparently falling down while recuperating at home, and discharged 10 days later.

Turkish newspapers have speculated that Ecevit has Parkinson's disease and myasthenia gravis, a nerve disease characterised by weakness and muscle fatigue. The premier has neither confirmed nor denied those reports.

The mass-circulation Sabah newspaper, in an open letter, urged: "Don't surrender Turkey to a political vacuum and uncertainty. Take the step history expects of you and cede the office you were entrusted with."

Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said on Sunday he found the debate over Ecevit's health "politically immoral."

"The prime minister is continuing his work. For us it is not important where he works. There is no vacuum of power in Turkey," Bahceli said.

Turkey became a candidate for EU membership in 1999 but has yet to implement a long list of economic, political and human rights reforms to begin accession talks.

Parliament must also pass a swathe of laws to fulfil promises to the IMF before adjourning for summer recess in July.