The Turkish stock market plunged Monday, reacting sharply to political tensions as the Islamic-rooted government comes under strong pressure from secular circles to call parliamentary elections.

At least 700,000 people marched Sunday against the ruling party’s candidate for president, Abdullah Gul, an observant Muslim who is currently the foreign minister.

Many Turks, including powerful generals, fear Gul would use the presidency _ a post with veto power over legislation _ to assist Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in chipping away at the separation of state and religion. Read more

Original post by The Associated Press