Challenge to Turkey reform package

Rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan on death row in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli says he will challenge the European Union-inspired abolition of the death penalty at the country's highest court.

His right wing Nationalist Action Party (MHP) had opposed the whole package of reforms including easing curbs on Kurdish language education and broadcasting which were passed by parliament on Saturday. (Full story)

Right-wingers fear those measures could reignite separatism in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast where the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) launched a violent campaign for independence in 1984, in which some 30,000 people have died.

"I have asked for preparations to be made to appeal to the Constitutional Court over the laws, particularly lifting the death penalty and concerning mother-tongue education and television broadcasting," Bahceli said in comments shown by NTV television on Sunday.

Recourse to the Constitutional Court is a common tactic for parties opposing laws passed by Turkey's parliament and court cases can take some time to be resolved, though the laws are normally enacted in the meantime.

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The opposition AK Party voted with the MHP against the clause lifting the death penalty in parliament, though it backed the main package, on the grounds that it said a constitutional change was needed to abolish capital punishment.

The reforms include ending punishments for criticism of the armed forces and other pillars of the Turkish establishment, and tightening laws against people smuggling. (Reform detail)

Markets are hoping progress towards the EU will help attract foreign investment to haul Turkey's economy out of recession and bolster a $16 billion IMF economic rescue programme.

The EU welcomed passage of the reforms but said the package would need to be closely analysed to assess its impact and much would depend on its practical implementation.

The package was rushed through parliament by pro-EU forces who wanted to complete the reforms before campaigning starts for a general election on November 3. The package still needs the president's ratification.

The death penalty has not been used in Turkey since 1984 but dozens are on death row, most notably Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party) which fought a long drawn-out guerrilla conflict for greater rights.