Turks urged to vote again on US troops

The Turkish Parliament was recalled for this weekend amid continued uncertainty over whether it will let America use the country's bases to launch a northern front against Saddam Hussein.

Officials close to the new government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan again indicated the passage of a second UN resolution sanctioning war would ease the passage of any fresh proposal to the parliament to allow in 62,000 US troops.

Amid intense pressure from Washington on Mr Erdogan to resubmit the proposal, one of his advisers, the Turkish MP Egemen Bagis, said: "If there is Security Council approval it will be easier for Turkey."

The main purpose of the weekend parliamentary session is to hear the details of the Erdogan government's programme, and it is due to pass a vote of confidence in the new administration early next week.

But Mr Erdogan, conscious that more than 90 per cent of the population opposes a war in Iraq, is reported to have disappointed President George Bush in a telephone call after his weekend election to parliament by refusing to commit himself on when he would reintroduce the troop proposal. The proposal was narrowly rejected by the parliament earlier this month.

The Turkish government is also anxious for fresh assurances on the future stability of Iraq as well as a promise that northern Iraqi Kurds will not be allowed to form a separate state, which might stimulate parallel demands from Kurds in south-eastern Turkey.