Turkish Parliament approves law to have president elected by popular vote

The Turkish Parliament on Thursday approved a key constitutional amendment that would allow

the people - rather than legislators - to elect the president.

The Islamic-rooted government pushed for the amendment after opposition legislators boycotted a process to elect a new president over fears that the candidate, who had been chosen by the governing Islamic-rooted party, might increase the influence of religion on politics in this Muslim but secular country. (AP)