Thousands march against Turk judge killing

Some 25,000 Turks marched yesterday to defend secularism which they said was under threat after a judge was shot dead by a gunman declaring himself a "soldier of God".

Angry crowds directed their anger at Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government which secularists accuse of having a secret Islamic agenda of bringing religion into public life.

Crowds booed and jostled government ministers as they tried to enter the Ankara mosque for the funeral of slain judge Mustafa Ozbilgin.

"Murderers get out" and "government resign", dozens shouted as police tried to clear the way for the ministers, including deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener.

Police said an Islamist lawyer burst into the top administrative court, or Council of State, on Wednesday, shot dead Judge Ozbilgin and wounded four others. One of the judges said the gunman shouted he was a soldier of God.

Police have detained nine suspects, media said. Islamists, but also Mr Erdogan, criticised the court after it barred a woman in February from becoming a head-teacher because she wore a headscarf.

It was that ruling that made the judges a target, the council's deputy chairwoman said.