A Turkish constitutional reform package to be submitted to parliament on Tuesday will make it possible for military top brass to be tried by a civilian court, media reported late on Monday.
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin told state TV, the Constitutional amendment package paves the way for trials of Chief of Staff, force commanders by constitutional court.
The main focus of the constitutional reform package has been changes to the way judges are appointed and making it more difficult to ban political parties.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says the changes will boost democracy in line with criteria laid down by the European Union for eventual membership.
The final draft of the reform package would allow the chief of staff and top military commanders to be tried by a top state court.
Media reports said the AK Party had made an appointment with Parliamentary Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin to submit the package at 11:00 a.m. (0800 GMT).
Erdogan has warned he will call a referendum if the government fails to get the two-thirds majority needed in parliament to amend the constitution.
PHOTO CAPTION
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) greets MPs from his ruling Justice and Development Party during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara March 2, 2010.
Agencies