Turkish PM says will quit politics if loses poll

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-18-2007 10:29

Turkish men walk past a billboard for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will quit politics if his ruling AKP fails to get enough votes to run the country on its own in Sunday's election.(AFP/Mustafa Ozer)

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says he will stand down if his ruling AK Party does not win the upcoming elections outright.

During a campaign rally, Erdogan told his supporters he will quit politics if he could not form a single-party government after Sunday's vote.

Opinion polls show the AK Party will win enough seats to form a government on its own. But some analysts do not rule out a possible coalition.

Erdogan's AK Party has presided over strong economic growth and the historic launch of European Union entry talks in the past five years. But increased attacks on Turkish security forces by Kurdish separatist rebels have bolstered support for nationalist parties.

Editor:Du Xiaodan