Turkey tense as court considers Kurd party's fate

Turkey's highest court yesterday began final deliberations on a case seeking to shut down the main Kurdish party on charges of backing PKK rebels, a decision that could undermine government moves to boost rights for Kurds.

The European Union has criticised the lawsuit against the Democratic Society Party (DTP), warning the EU candidate that banning the party would violate Kurdish rights.

Analysts fear if the DTP is banned it would strengthen the hand of the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatist group by undermining confidence in the democratic process and the government's current reform initiative.

There have been violent street protests and shootings ahead of a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which could decide to disband the DTP, the only pro-Kurdish party in Turkey's Parliament.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's Islamist-rooted, ruling AK Party's drive to improve rights of Kurdish citizens is aimed at ending a long-running conflict with Kurdish separatists.

PKK guerillas have fought for 25 years for a Kurdish homeland in southeastern Turkey. About 40,000 people have died in the violence.

Investors in Turkey, a European Union candidate country, worry the court ruling may raise political instability ahead of a general election set for 2011 and at a time when the economy has begun crawling back from a steep recession.

Judges among the 11-member court have told Reuters they want to reach a verdict in the next two weeks.