Turkish Prime Minister Appeals for Unity

A Turkish demonstrator holds a banner which shows a bulb, the symbol of the ruling Justice and Development Party, covered with a black chador and a slogan that reads: "We are aware of the danger" on it during a pro-secular rally in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, April 29, 2007. Hundreds of thousands of pro-secular Turks flooded central Istanbul to demand the resignation of the government, which they fear is leading Turkey toward Islamic rule. The demonstrators took to the streets following a sharp rise in tension between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government and the country's powerful pro-secular military, which accuses the government of tolerating or encouraging the activities of radical Islamic circles. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer) (Murad Sezer - AP)

The candidacy of Gul, a close ally of Erdogan, has triggered an outcry from secular groups who think he would use the office _ a post with veto power over legislation _ to chip away at the separation of state and religion.

The head of Europe's top human rights organization expressed shock at the stance taken by Turkey's military, which threatened to intervene in the selection of the new president _ which is by parliamentary vote rather than direct election _ and urged the government to curb Islamic influences.

"This statement looks like a deliberate attempt by the armed forces to influence the election of a new president," Terry Davis, secretary-general of the Council of Europe, said in a statement. "They should stay in their barracks and keep out of politics."

Both Gul and Erdogan have pledged loyalty to Turkey's secular constitution, and cite their record as reformists.

The United States stayed away from criticizing any of the players in the crisis.

"We have confidence in Turkey's democratic institutions and Turkey's constitutional processes to work out any questions that may surround the election of the next Turkish president," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

Gul was expected to win the presidency because parliament is dominated by his party. But Turkey's Constitutional Court was evaluating an appeal by the opposition to cancel the voting.

The opposition has argued that there was no quorum during the first round of voting on Friday. Gul failed to win that round, and another round is scheduled for Wednesday.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, an army officer in World War I, founded the secular Turkish republic after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. He gave the vote to women, restricted Islamic dress and replaced the Arabic script with the Roman alphabet.

But Islam remained potent among many people, and some leaders with a religious background have portrayed themselves as an alternative to the secular establishment.