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Turkey considers Iraq war vote
ANKARA, Turkey (CNN) -- Turkey may hold a referendum on participating in any military strike against Iraq. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), told reporters on Wednesday: "I said to (President) Bush if there is time, then a referendum can be carried out," Turkey is a member of NATO and coalition aircraft currently use a Turkish air base to patrol the northern no-fly zone of Iraq. The United States is expected to look to Turkey, strategically important geographically and as the only Muslim state in NATO, for support if there is a military conflict with Iraq. Polls show most Turkish citizens oppose any war. Erdogan made his remarks to reporters during a flight back to Turkey from Washington. "We are a democratic country and in democracies the onus is on parliament to make such a decision," said Erdogan. And he told the state Anatolian news agency: "But if necessary the people should be consulted, their opinion sought. These are means that can be used in such situations. I said this to Mr. Bush. If there is time, then a referendum can be carried out." Erdogan's AKP stormed to election victory in November, becoming the first party in 15 years to gain enough seats to avoid having to form a coalition government. But there has been concern at the party's ambitions -- because of its formation from the ashes of a banned Islamist party -- and Erdogan himself is banned from parliament because of a conviction for sedition. Erdogan has made conciliatory gestures saying his party would rule on secular lines rather than religious ones and has said his priority would be securing Turkey's entry into the European Union.
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