Turkey reforms envisage top civilian court for top military leaders

Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin told state TV, the Constitutional amendment package paves the way for trials of Chief of Staff, force commanders by constitutional court.

The main focus of the constitutional reform package has been changes to the way judges are appointed and making it more difficult to ban political parties.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says the changes will boost democracy in line with criteria laid down by the European Union for eventual membership.

The final draft of the reform package would allow the chief of staff and top military commanders to be tried by a top state court.

Ergin told TRT, a change has been made in the list of people by the Constitutional Court that can judge as Supreme Court.

"Parliament speaker, Chief of General Staff and Forces Commanders have been added to the current list", he said.

Media reports said the AK Party had made an appointment with Parliamentary Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin to submit the package at 11:00 a.m. (0800 GMT).

Erdogan has warned he will call a referendum if the government fails to get the two-thirds majority needed in parliament to amend the constitution.


/World Bulletin/