Turkey set to elect new president

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Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul Abdullah Gul is expected to be elected elected president Turkey's parliament will begin voting for a new president on Friday but the election could be overshadowed by an opposition boycott and procedural row The Republican People's Party (CHP) has said it will not vote because it was not consulted on the ruling party's choice Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul The CHP is also threatening to challenge the election in court if fewer than two-thirds of MPs vote. The Justice and Development Party is 15 seats short of the required majority Party officials have therefore been holding meetings with independent MPs and the leaders of the centre-right Motherland and True Path parties, who together control 24 seats , to garner support. If they fail, Mr Gul may not be formally confirmed in his new post until after a third round of voting on 9 May when only a simple majority in the 550-seat chamber would be required.