Turkey's top court to decide ruling party's fate

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ANKARA, July 26 (AFP): Turkey's top court begins deliberations Monday on whether to shut down the country's ruling party which won a decisive victory in legislative elections just one year ago.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has its roots in a banned Islamist party, stands accused of violating the principle of secularism enshrined in the Turkish constitution.

The AKP rejects the charges as politically motivated and argues that it is facing a "judicial coup" to oust it from office.

Observers say outlawing the party could plunge Turkey into political chaos, impact membership talks with the European Union and hit the economy at a time of global financial jitters and rising energy prices.

The Constitutional Court has said that it will convene on a daily basis until the 11 judges reach a verdict.

Apart from a ban on the party, the prosecutor has also called for the court to bar President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and 69 AKP officials from party politics for five years.

The ruling can go one of three ways: The court can shut down the AKP and impose political bans on Erdogan and his colleages; it can completely or partially cut treasury aid to the party or it can throw out the case.

The AKP is accused of becoming a "focal point" of anti-secular activity aimed at steering the country away from its secular system and towards an Islamist regime.

A court-appointed rapporteur advised the judges in a non-binding report last week to acquit the party of the charges, arguing that its actions fall under the scope of freedom of expression.

But the Constitutional Court has a history of ignoring such recommendations and, some analysts suggest, may not be swayed by concerns over the fallout of its decision.