The outgoing Islamist Prime Minister, Mr Necmettin Erbakan, and his conservative allies launched furious attacks on Turkey's President yesterday, accusing him of carrying out a "coup" by asking Mr Erbakan's arch-rival, Mr Mesut Yilmaz, to form a new government.
The outgoing conservative Foreign Minister, Ms Tansu Ciller, who had lined herself up for the post in a deal with the governing pro-Islamic Welfare Party, said: "We are faced with a coup by the President. This is embarrassing for democracy." President Suleyman Demirel met leaders of all opposition parties yesterday but refrained from having talks with Ms Ciller.
She said Mr Yilmaz, leader of the opposition conservative Motherland Party, lacked support and could not win a vote of confidence. Mr Erbakan said the President's action violated democracy. "As it is clear that Yilmaz lacks a parliamentary majority, it is against democratic principles to name him Prime Minister without even consulting us," he said.
The President's office said Mr Demirel had invited Mr Yilmaz "to form a new government which will defuse tensions in the country". Mr Erbakan quit on Wednesday as part of a deal with Ms Ciller, who had expected to reform the government.