Turkish Parliament Votes Bill Allowing Court Trial Of Members Of 1980 Military Administration

Turkish parliament early on Wednesday voted an article of a constitutional bill that would allow for the court trial of members of the National Security Council formed after the coup d'etat on Septenber 12 1980.

The bill, which scraps provisional Article 15 of the current constitution, received 336 votes in favor and 70 against as one vote was empty.

The amendment also would allow for the trial of government members as well as members of a consultation assembly back then.

The lawmakers also voted an article that grants constitutional guarantees to Turaaa's Economic and Social Council.

The article was received 340 in favor -- the highest number of votes in favor ever since the parliament started debating the reform package last week -- and 69 votes against