Istanbul, Turkey - HUNDREDS of thousands of Turks took part in two days of protests hoping to persuade the Prime Minister against running for president, amid concerns his election would put at risk the separation of religion and state in the mainly Muslim country.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to decide this week whether to stand for president next month. Since his Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has roots in political Islam, has a substantial parliamentary majority, its candidate is assured of succeeding the staunchly secularist Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Mr Erdogan, who has presided over strong economic growth and has worked hard to secure Turkey's European Union candidacy, presents himself as a conservative democrat. But opponents remain suspicious of his Islamist past.
Mr Erdogan has served a prison term for sedition, and his wife covers her head in the Islamic manner. Under his leadership, his party has attempted to criminalise adultery, banish alcohol from some establishments and relax restrictions on religious education and headscarves.
His opponents, who include senior bureaucrats, academics, judges and generals, believe he has a hidden agenda to undermine the separation of religion and state, which he could put into practice if AKP held all the top government and state posts.
Although in Turkey the government makes the decisions, the president has the power of veto, and traditionally only the staunchest secularists have occupied the most senior position in the state.
Mr Erdogan, still testing the waters, has played down his ambitions publicly and told his MPs the general elections due by November are more important. His failure to confirm whether he would stand has sparked prolonged debate and led to what amounts to a grudging acceptance of his inevitable ascent, and even the pragmatic financial markets have factored in his election.
But as the moment of truth approaches, feelings run higher than ever. Increasingly alarmist talk surrounding the possible candidacy culminated in strident speeches last week by outgoing President Sezer and the head of the powerful military, General Yasar Buyukanit.
Shockwaves ran through the country when Nokta, a political magazine, revealed what it said were aborted plans by senior figures in the armed forces for a coup to dislodge Mr Erdogan. They reportedly believed that as well as the Islamist threat, the Erdogan Government was prepared to make too many concessions to the EU.
The chief of staff, who is believed to have opposed the plans, has not dismissed the reports. Police raided the magazine's offices last week.