Reuters/Ankara

Turkey’s military attended the opening of parliament yesterday for the first time since the election of a former Islamist as president.

The secular military, which has clashed with the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party, had boycotted parliament’s activities since ex-Islamist Abdullah Gul was elected president in 2007, an election hardline secularists said undermined the separation of state and religion in the European Union candidate country.

The military attended parliament earlier this year when US President Barack Obama gave a speech there, but had otherwise stayed away from the assembly since Gul took the post.

Predominantly Muslim Turkey has a secular constitution, and the army regards itself as the guardian of Turkey’s secular order.

Tension between the AK Party, which has roots in political Islam and was first voted to power in 2002, and the secularist establishment, including army generals, judges and academics, has heightened political tensions in Turkey.

Yesterday, military commander General Ilker Basbug, who has struck a more conciliatory tone with the government since his appointment to the top military post last year, listened gravely from a stand as Gul addressed the assembly.

Basbug, who was accompanied by his top commanders, did not clap or stand up after Gul ended his 45-minute speech.

The secularist elite had campaigned hard against Gul’s election as president, arguing it was an intolerable intrusion by political Islam into Turkey’s highest office.

Gul, who denies harbouring any Islamist designs for Turkey, was finally elected president on August 28, 2007 after several attempts and court challenges.