ANKARA - A Turkish secularist government began to take shape yesterday, although it still lacked the parliamentary strength needed to prevent pro-Islamist opponents killing it off at birth.
The prime minister-designate, Mr Mesut Yilmaz, said he had appointed a staunchly anti-Islamist politician as his deputy and had received presidential backing for his left-right alliance.
"The President told me he would approve a government with the support of four parties," he told a news conference. The Motherland Party leader, Mr Yilmaz, has the backing of three other party leaders for his coalition. He is to present a cabinet list next week to President Suleyman Demirel.
