Turks march against allowing US troops in

More than 10,000 chanting and shouting protesters gathered in a central Ankara square, about a kilometre away, for a demonstration organised by trade unions. It was the first major public manifestation of widespread opposition to a war most Turks see as an unjustified and potentially disastrous attack on a neighbour.
"No to war, don’t let people die," the crowd chanted in front of a stage where a large banner read, "The people will stop this war."
The government is under heavy pressure from NATO ally the United States to authorise some 62,000 U.S. troops to be deployed in Turkey to launch a "northern front" which experts say might shorten a war. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has already deferred the parliamentary vote from Thursday amid widespread concerns about the impact of any war on Turkey’s borders, further delaying U.S. military preparations.

NO DELAY
AKP leader Tayyip Erdogan said he saw no prospect of the motion being withdrawn on Saturday.
The resolution would also authorise Turkey’s own army to move into northern Iraq for an incursion Turkey says aims to prevent a humanitarian disaster and block any moves by Iraqi Kurds to use a war to set up their own state.
Asked if he thought there was a possibility of the motion being withdrawn, Erdogan replied: "I don’t see the possibility of anything like that. Nothing like that will happen."
The main assembly is set to meet around 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) to debate the resolution. The session is likely to be closed to the public and press.
"Deputies, do not give your support to the murderer Bush. Don’t play a part in killing innocent children," said a placard carried by one woman demonstrator.
Fearing turmoil on its borders and political conflict at home, Turkey has been reluctant to commit itself to a role in the war. But a rejection of the U.S. request would mean losing billions of dollars in aid and being unable to influence the fate of northern Iraq, where it has vital interests.
Turkey’s powerful National Security Council, made up of government leaders and powerful generals, met on Friday to discuss the U.S. troop plans. But an abrupt statement issued after the meeting gave no guidance to the government ahead of Saturday’s parliamentary session.
It was not clear why the AKP postponed Thursday’s planned debate, but the most common explanation is that the deputies needed more time to discuss the issue.
Sources close to the party said the government was worried about the constitutional legitimacy of the resolution.
"The AKP, which is extending the motion process, seems to be scared of taking the responsibility on its own," said Ismet Berkan, a columnist in Radikal newspaper.
The constitution states that any deployment of foreign troops on Turkish soil or the dispatch of Turkish troops overseas for combat requires "international legitimacy".