ERDOGAN: "DON'T CRIPPLE OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday officially undertook his new deputy duties at the Istanbul Provincial Election Council. Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said he certainly wouldn't seek the presidency, adding that he backs Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's possible candidacy. "I respect his decision on the matter," said the premier. Calling on opposition party leaders to work in harmony in the new Parliament, Erdogan said that he will visit all leaders to seek compromise on issues. "Don't close the doors to dialogue," Erdogan urged his fellow party leaders. Asked about his stance on the Democratic Society Party's (DPT) independent deputies who won 22 seats in the new Parliament, Erdogan said there can be no dialogue with them if they try to politicize the Kurdish issue or back the terrorist PKK. /Turkiye/

GUL: "THE PEOPLE WANT ME TO BECOME PRESIDENT"
In a press conference in Ankara yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul hinted that he will again seek the presidency, defying expectations that he would stay out of the race. "I cannot be expected to ignore the will of the people, or the signs shown at campaign rallies," said Gul. "The will of the nation is clear and was reflected in the (Sunday general) elections." But Gul declined to explicitly clarify whether he will run for president or not. Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Mustafa Ozyurek said that his party still opposes Gul's presidential candidacy, adding that there was no change in their stance on him. A CHP-led boycott of May's presidential election, protesting Gul's candidacy, brought on last Sunday's general elections. /Hurriyet-Turkiye/

IN WAKE OF ELECTIONS, TOP CHP BOARD RESIGNS EN MASSE
All 19 members of the Central Executive Board (MYK) of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) have submitted their resignations to Chairman Deniz Baykal, said Deputy Chairman Esref Erdem. The CHP yesterday held its first meeting after Sunday's general elections to discuss their outcome, where the CHP polled a distant second. After the meeting, Erdem told a press conference that the board had resigned in order to give support to party leader Baykal, who has signaled that the party needs to renew itself. Erdem also said that the issue of the upcoming presidential election had not been discussed at the meeting. /Star/

BAHCELI: "WE'LL BE IN PARLIAMENT TO ELECT THE NEXT PRESIDENT"
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday said that his deputies would attend balloting in Parliament to elect Turkey's next president. "In the general elections, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) became the ruling party again due to the nation's will," Bahceli told Aksam daily. "The AKP can choose who they want as president. But the president should represent the unity of the nation and state, and shouldn't be controversial. It would be in Turkey's interest that he is someone who is suitable for Turkey." An opposition boycott of May's presidential election brought on last Sunday's general elections. /Aksam/

DSP'S SEZER: "OUR DEPUTIES AREN'T RUSHING TO LEAVE THE CHP"
Opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer yesterday addressed allegations that DSP deputies will leave the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) just after officially taking their seats in Parliament, which they won in Sunday's elections by running under the CHP name. "DSP deputies leaving the CHP is no surprise," said Sezer. "This is a decision taken in accordance with the CHP. The DSP establishing a group in Parliament isn't something that will happen right away, we're not in any hurry." Sezer also said that they will decide whether or not to take part in the presidential election in Parliament if Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul again runs for the post, adding that they hope Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will act in line with his recent messages of reconciliation. /Cumhuriyet/

PRESS GROUP SLAMS CENSORSHIP
In the wake of Sunday's elections, the Turkish Journalists' Union (TGC) expects Parliament to pass legislation to tackle the dirty triangle of politics, the media and trade, the group said yesterday. "On the 99th anniversary of the Turkish media's first resistance to censorship, we are now slaves to censorship and self-censorship," a TGC statement said. The group claimed that the reason that the media followed a policy of siding with powerful interests is that there are many commercial and invisible obstacles facing media bosses, and so these bosses cannot feel independent of government. Furthermore, in a ceremony at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace marking July 24 Press Day, TGC head Orhan Erinc gave awards to journalists who received permanent press cards. /Turkish Daily News-Milliyet/