ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s “pashas”, the generals who once made politicians quake at the mere hint of disapproval, are staying silent as riots sweep the nation. Today the words “military coup” are nowhere to be heard, a tribute perhaps to the prime minister now accused of trampling on democracy.

Until recently Turkish army chiefs repeatedly got rid of politicians who displeased them or proved unable to cope with turmoil. In 1960 they toppled a premier and later hanged him; three more coups followed in 40 years.

ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s “pashas”, the generals who once made politicians quake at the mere hint of disapproval, are staying silent as riots sweep the nation. Today the words “military coup” are nowhere to be heard, a tribute perhaps to the prime minister now accused of trampling on democracy.

Until recently Turkish army chiefs repeatedly got rid of politicians who displeased them or proved unable to cope with turmoil. In 1960 they toppled a premier and later hanged him; three more coups followed in 40 years.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan stands before a sea of cheering faithful waving Turkish flags and, to shouts of “Allahu Akbar”, God is Greatest, summons the spirit of pious Ottoman poets in denouncing protesters who challenge his power.

Across Istanbul, the same flags, white crescent moon and star on a red background, are raised; but they proclaim what some Erdogan critics see as a different kind of Turkey.

ISTANBUL, June 10 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
stands before a sea of cheering faithful waving Turkish flags
and, to shouts of “Allahu Akbar”, God is Greatest, summons the
spirit of pious Ottoman poets in denouncing protesters who
challenge his power.

Across Istanbul, the same flags, white crescent moon and
star on a red background, are raised; but they proclaim what
some Erdogan critics see as a different kind of Turkey.

ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) – Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warned protesters who have taken to the streets across Turkey demanding his resignation that his patience has its limits and compared the unrest with an army attempt six years ago to curb his power.

Riot police used teargas and water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters from a square in the capital, Ankara, just a few kilometers from where Erdogan spoke.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Tayyip Erdogan has walked Turkey’s political stage unchallenged for a decade, bringing powerful generals to heel and driving economic success that has changed the face of the country, spreading its influence across the region.

But unprecedented protests and riots may now set limits to the power of a prime minister widely seen as victim of the same uncompromising and emotional manner that has helped him to three successive election victories. They may also bury his hopes of assuming a new more powerful executive presidency next year.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Tayyip Erdogan has walked Turkey’s political stage unchallenged for a decade, bringing powerful generals to heel and driving economic success that has changed the face of the country, spreading its influence across the region.

But unprecedented protests and riots may now set limits to the power of a prime minister widely seen as victim of the same uncompromising and emotional manner that has helped him to three successive election victories. They may also bury his hopes of assuming a new more powerful executive presidency next year.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Thursday Russia and Iran would soon realise they had little choice but to join international diplomatic efforts for the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

He acknowledged, however, the divisions in the Syrian opposition and its lack of preparedness to take power, saying it must create a structure that embraces all segments of society.

ISTANBUL, Dec 9 (Reuters) – He has been feted in Arab
states as the midwife of Islamic democracy. At home in Turkey,
he strides the political stage unchallenged, a powerful army
tamed, a hostile judiciary subdued, citizens savouring the taste
of economic success.

Yet there are doubts about Tayyip Erdogan. Tucked away in an
anonymous backstreet near Istanbul airport, the Sozcu
(Spokesman) newspaper stands out in lampooning and criticising
the prime minister at a time when over 60 journalists are in
pre-trial detention and once-outspoken newspapers appear cowed.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin has ceased to be the “darling” of a Russian people afflicted by a sense of aimlessness and alarmed by a state apparatus offering little protection from arbitrary abuse, a veteran Russian commentator said on Monday.

Vladimir Pozner, a television compere with high-level contacts to elites stretching back to Soviet times, said the losses suffered by the prime minister’s United Russia party in Sunday’s parliamentary election reflected anger over a lack of clear vision for the future.