GUL

ANKARA (Reuters):

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul confirmed yesterday he would run again for Turkey's presidency and vowed toprotect the secular constitution separating state and religion if elected.

Turkey's secular elite, including army generals, distrust Gul's Islamist past and the fact his wife wears the Muslim headscarf. They blocked his first bid to become president in May, forcing an early election that his ruling AK Party won.

Turkey's lira currency lost 3.3 per cent against the dollar and stocks also fell yesterday on global market jitters and investor fears of renewed tensions over Gul's candidacy.