Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer (file photo) (InterPressNews)
May 31, 2007 -- Turkey's parliament speaker, Bulent Arinc, says lawmakers have approved a constitutional amendment to elect the president by popular vote.
It was the key provision in a package of electoral reforms that still needs to be approved in its entirety.
If the legislators approve the entire package in the final vote, then President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who opposes the article, can either endorse it or call a referendum on the issue.
(AP, AFP)