Electoral gain for Islamists

ISTANBUL - Islamists made a strong showing in local elections in Turkey to strengthen their claim to a place in the national government, but the big loser was the troubled secularist coalition now barely clinging to life. With almost all of the votes counted in 41 local contests yesterday, the Islamic Welfare Party (RP) had 33.6 per cent, up from 29.8 percent in the same areas in December's national polls.