Ecevit ally joins rival party

Dervis was formerly an independent

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has suffered another blow after his independent former political ally Kemal Dervis joined a rival party.

Dervis resigned earlier this month from Ecevit's crippled coalition, saying he would seek to unite Turkey's divided centre-left parties and defeat a pro-Islamic party in the November 3 elections.

On Friday, it was announced that Dervis, credited with helping Turkey secure $16 billion in loans from the International Monetary Fund, has joined the Republican People's Party (CHP).

He immediately urged centre-left voters to unite ahead of November polls.

"Not only from members of the (Republican People's Party) ... we need support from everybody," Dervis told supporters.

CHP leader Deniz Baykal said: "This decision will strengthen the (Republican People's Party)."

"We will show everyone that with Dervis joining the CHP a grand new establishment is starting to emerge."

The Republican's People Party was founded by the country's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and is the nation's oldest party.

Dervis had considerable differences with the nationalist wing of Ecevit's government as, in co-ordination with the IMF, he pushed privatisation and reforms in the frail banking system and fragile state financial structures.

Earlier this month, parliament set the poll date -- 18 months earlier than scheduled -- as it became clear that Ecevit was no longer able to hold together his fragile three-party coalition.

About half of the 128 legislators in his party have left to form another party.

Earlier this month, some of those who remain urged Ecevit to form an alliance with other social democrats ahead of the elections.