From L to R (front row) Turkey's Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul pose for a picture next to officials at the end of the ceremony of the Turkish Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter Programme in Ankara June 24, 2008. Agusta Westland, a unit of Italian defence and aerospace group Finmeccanica, was announced as the bidder of the Turkish Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter Programme in 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L) talks to Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit during a review ceremony of the Turkish Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter Programme in Ankara June 24, 2008. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit waves as he leaves an opening ceremony of a military building for sport activities in Ankara June 23, 2008. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (R) and his Greek counterpart General Dimitrios Grapsas (L) pose before a meeting in Ankara May 26, 2008. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) and his Greek counterpart General Dimitrios Grapsas (R) review a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony in Ankara May 26, 2008. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) and his Greek counterpart General Dimitrios Grapsas (R) review a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony in Ankara May 26, 2008. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit attends the Global Terrorism and International Cooperation Symposium in Ankara March 10, 2008. Buyukanit will address the symposium organised by the Turkish Army. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (C) attends the Global Terrorism and International Cooperation Symposium in Ankara March 10, 2008. Buyukanit will address the symposium organised by the Turkish Army. From L-R: Turkey's State Minister Cemil Cicek, retired general Dogan Gures, Buyukanit, retired general Hilmi Ozkok and Turkey's Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (C), flanked by retired generals Dogan Gures (L) and Hilmi Ozkok (R), attends the Global Terrorism and International Cooperation Symposium in Ankara March 10, 2008. Buyukanit will address the symposium, which is organised by Turkish Army, in the Turkish capital. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (front) addresses the media during a news conference about the recent army offensive against the Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, in Ankara March 3, 2008, as he is flanked by top army generals. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit addresses the media during a news conference about the recent army offensive against the Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, in Ankara March 3, 2008. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (C) addresses the media during a news conference about the recent army offensive against the Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, in Ankara March 3, 2008, as he is flanked by Land Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug (L), Sea Forces Commander Admiral Metin Atac (R) and top army generals. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) prepares to shake hands with Turkey's Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit before a meeting in Ankara February 28, 2008. Turkey has given no clear timeframe for ending its military operations against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, Gates said on Thursday after talks with Turkish officials. Gates also reiterated Washington's call for the operation, now in its seventh day, to be as short and carefully targeted as possible. REUTERS/Mark Wilson/Pool (TURKEY) 

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) shakes hands with Turkey's Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit before a meeting in Ankara February 28, 2008. Turkey has given no clear timeframe for ending its military operations against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, Gates said on Thursday after talks with Turkish officials. Gates also reiterated Washington's call for the operation, now in its seventh day, to be as short and carefully targeted as possible. REUTERS/Mark Wilson/Pool (TURKEY) 

(L to R) Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit, Parliamentary Speaker Koksal Toptan, President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and main opposition People's Republic Party leader Deniz Baykal pray during the funeral of fallen Turkish soldier Huseyin Dogan at Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara February 28, 2008. Dogan was one of the soldiers killed in clashes with Kurdish PKK rebels during the military offensive in northern Iraq. The United States urged NATO ally Turkey on Thursday to end its offensive against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq swiftly, but said it would not threaten to withdraw intelligence help.
REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul (R) talks to Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) during the funeral of Turkish army officers Zafer Kilic, Tekin Isik and Gurcan Ulucan at Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara February 25, 2008. Kilic, Isik and Ulucan were three of the soldiers killed in clashes with Kurdish PKK rebels during military offensive in northern Iraq. Iraq fears that a prolonged Turkish incursion into northern Iraq could trigger clashes between Turkish troops and Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga security forces, the country's national security adviser said on Monday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul (R), Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L), Parliamentary Speaker Koksal Toptan (2nd L) and Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (2nd R) pray during the funeral of Turkish army officers Zafer Kilic, Tekin Isik and Gurcan Ulucan at Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara February 25, 2008. Kilic, Isik and Ulucan were three of the soldiers killed in clashes with Kurdish PKK rebels during military offensive in northern Iraq. Iraq fears that a prolonged Turkish incursion into northern Iraq could trigger clashes between Turkish troops and Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga security forces, the country's national security adviser said on Monday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak (L) and Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit pose to the media before a meeting in Ankara February 13, 2008. Israel does not consider Turkey a potential springboard for any future attack on neighbouring Syria or Iran, a senior Israeli defence official said on Wednesday during a visit to Ankara. REUTERS/Stringer (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit addresses the media in Ankara January 30, 2008. Turkey's top general on Wednesday tacitly reiterated the army's opposition to women wearing the Muslim headscarf at university, a day after the religiously oriented government proposed easing a ban on the attire.REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit addresses the media in Ankara January 30, 2008. Buyukanit tacitly reiterated on Wednesday the army's tough stance on separation of state and religion as controversy rages over government plans to ease a ban on the Muslim headscarf. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (2nd R) visits Captain Adem Yazar, one of the army personnel wounded during Thursday's explosion, at a military hospital in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, January 5, 2008. The bomb, which exploded in the centre of Diyarbakir on Thursday evening, targeted a military service vehicle that had been carrying 46 army personnel as it passed near a school. The death toll has risen to five, including three children, and the number of injured stands at 110, security sources said on Friday. Also pictured are Land Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug (L), Sea Forces Commander Admiral Muzaffer Metin Atac (R) and Air Forces Commander General Aydogan Babaoglu (2nd L). REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) visits Captain Adem Yazar, one of the army personnel wounded during Thursday's explosion, at a military hospital in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, January 5, 2008. The bomb, which exploded in the centre of Diyarbakir on Thursday evening, targeted a military service vehicle that had been carrying 46 army personnel as it passed near a school. The death toll has risen to five, including three children, and the number of injured stands at 110, security sources said on Friday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit addresses the media during his visit to the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir January 4, 2008. The death toll from a bomb explosion in southeast Turkey's largest city has risen to five, including three children, and the number of injured stands at 110, security sources said on Friday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (C) attends a conference flanked by Sea Forces Commander General Muzaffer Metin Atac (L) and Air Force Commander General Aydogan Babaoglu (R) in Ankara December 11, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (4th L) chairs the annual meeting of the High Military Council as he is flanked by Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (5th L), Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul (3rd L) and top military officials in Ankara November 29, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Kurdish supporters of DTP party flash victory signs during a rally against the possible Turkish operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, in the south-eastern border town of Nusaybin November 11, 2007. It is not too late for Turkey's military to carry out a full-scale cross-border operation into northern Iraq, the head of Turkey's armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted as saying by daily Hurriyet on Saturday. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (TURKEY) 

Kurdish supporters of DTP party flash victory signs and hold portraits of jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan during a rally against the possible Turkish operation against the PKK in northern Iraq, in the south-eastern border town of Nusaybin November 11, 2007. It is not too late for Turkey's military to carry out a full-scale cross-border operation into northern Iraq, the head of Turkey's armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted as saying by daily Hurriyet on Saturday. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (TURKEY) 

Kurdish supporters of DTP party flash victory signs during a rally against the possible Turkish operation against the PKK in northern Iraq, in the south-eastern border town of Nusaybin November 11, 2007. It is not too late for Turkey's military to carry out a full-scale cross-border operation into northern Iraq, the head of Turkey's armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted as saying by daily Hurriyet on Saturday. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (TURKEY) 

Kurdish supporters of DTP party flash victory signs and hold portraits of jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan during a rally against the possible Turkish operation against the PKK in northern Iraq, in the south-eastern border town of Nusaybin November 11, 2007. It is not too late for Turkey's military to carry out a full-scale cross-border operation into northern Iraq, the head of Turkey's armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted as saying by daily Hurriyet on Saturday. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (TURKEY) 

A Turkish soldier patrols a road in the south-eastern Turkish province of Sirnak, bordering Iraq, November 11, 2007. It is not too late for Turkey's military to carry out a full-scale cross-border operation into northern Iraq, the head of Turkey's armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted as saying by daily Hurriyet on Saturday. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (TURKEY) 

A Turkish soldier patrols a road surrounded by mountains in the south-eastern Turkish province of Sirnak, bordering Iraq, November 11, 2007. It is not too late for Turkey's military to carry out a full-scale cross-border operation into northern Iraq, the head of Turkey's armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted as saying by daily Hurriyet on Saturday. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (TURKEY) 

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media in Ankara, late 21 October, 2007. Erdogan said on Sunday U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had asked Turkey not to take action against Kurdish rebels for a few days, following a rebel ambush that killed Turkish troops. President Abdullah Gul, Erdogan and military chief General Yasar Buyukanit earlier held emergency talks on Turkey's response to the killing of 17 soldiers by Kurdish rebels. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media in Ankara, late 21 October, 2007. Erdogan said on Sunday U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had asked Turkey not to take action against Kurdish rebels for a few days, following a rebel ambush that killed Turkish troops. President Abdullah Gul, Erdogan and military chief General Yasar Buyukanit earlier held emergency talks on Turkey's response to the killing of 17 soldiers by Kurdish rebels. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul (L) and Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (R) pose to the media prior to a meeting in Ankara September 10, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul (L) and Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit pose for the media prior to a meeting in Ankara September 10, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul (L) talks with Filiz Buyukanit (C), wife of Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (R), during a graduation ceremony at the Sea Force war academy in Istanbul August 31, 2007. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul accompanied by Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit watches the newly graduated air force cadets during their graduation ceremony at the Air Force war academy in Istanbul August 31, 2007. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas(TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul watches the newly graduated air force cadets while Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) sits behind him during their graduation ceremony at the Air Force war academy in Istanbul August 31, 2007. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas(TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul (L) talks with Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit during a graduation ceremony for 965 cadets at the Air Force war academy in Istanbul August 31, 2007. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas(TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul (L) talks with Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit during a graduation ceremony for 965 cadets at the Air Force war academy in Istanbul August 31, 2007. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul (L) sings the national anthem beside Turkish Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit during a ceremony at the Air Force war academy in Istanbul August 31, 2007. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas(TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul (C) and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L) listen to Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit during a reception marking the 85th anniversary of Victory Day in Ankara August 30, 2007. Turkey's military, stern upholders of secularism, failed to keep former Islamist Gul from winning the presidency, but it is likely to try to make life difficult for him and the ruling AK Party. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (front C), Land Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug (front L), Sea Forces Commander Admiral Muzaffer Metin Atac (front R) and top army generals visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during a ceremony marking the 85th anniversary of Victory Day in Ankara August 30, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (front) visits the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during a ceremony marking the 85th anniversary of Victory Day in Ankara August 30, 2007. Turkey's military, stern upholders of secularism, failed to keep former Islamist Abdullah Gul from winning the presidency, but it is likely to try to make life difficult for him and the ruling AK Party. Almost no one expects a military coup, given the strong support for the Islamist-rooted AK Party in general elections in July, and it may be that only a series of blunders by the ruling party would give the army cause to go beyond vocal criticism. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's President-elect Abdullah Gul (2nd R) talks to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) as Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (2nd L) talks to Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan (L) during a parade marking the 85th anniversary of Victory Day in Ankara August 30, 2007. Turkey's military, stern upholders of secularism, failed to keep former Islamist Abdullah Gul from winning the presidency, but it is likely to try to make life difficult for him and the ruling AK Party. Almost no one expects a military coup, given the strong support for the Islamist-rooted AK Party in general elections in July, and it may be that only a series of blunders by the ruling party would give the army cause to go beyond vocal criticism. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul (R) reviews the soldiers as he is flanked by Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit during a parade marking the 85th anniversary of Victory Day in Ankara August 30, 2007. Turkey's military, stern upholders of secularism, failed to keep former Islamist Abdullah Gul from winning the presidency, but it is likely to try to make life difficult for him and the ruling AK Party. Almost no one expects a military coup, given the strong support for the Islamist-rooted AK Party in general elections in July, and it may be that only a series of blunders by the ruling party would give the army cause to go beyond vocal criticism. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul (R) reviews the soldiers as he is flanked by Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit during a parade marking the 85th anniversary of Victory Day in Ankara August 30, 2007. Turkey's military, stern upholders of secularism, failed to keep former Islamist Abdullah Gul from winning the presidency, but it is likely to try to make life difficult for him and the ruling AK Party. Almost no one expects a military coup, given the strong support for the Islamist-rooted AK Party in general elections in July, and it may be that only a series of blunders by the ruling party would give the army cause to go beyond vocal criticism. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's President-elect Abdullah Gul (front C) reviews soldiers as he is flanked by Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (front L) and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (front R) during a parade marking the 85th anniversary of Victory Day in Ankara August 30, 2007. Turkey's military, stern upholders of secularism, failed to keep former Islamist Abdullah Gul from winning the presidency, but it is likely to try to make life difficult for him and the ruling AK Party. Almost no one expects a military coup, given the strong support for the Islamist-rooted AK Party in general elections in July, and it may be that only a series of blunders by the ruling party would give the army cause to go beyond vocal criticism. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's newly elected President Abdullah Gul (2nd R) attends the graduation ceremony of the Military Medical School in Ankara August 29, 2007. Gul is flanked by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R), Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan (3rd R), Toptan's wife Saime Toptan (3rd L), Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) and Buyukanit's wife Filiz Buyukanit (2nd L). Gul was sworn in as Turkey's president on Tuesday despite the objections of a powerful military that fears a creeping subversion of the country's secular order under the former Islamist. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's newly elected President Abdullah Gul (front L) arrives for the graduation ceremony of the Military Medical School in Ankara August 29, 2007, as Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (back R)stands behind him. Gul was sworn in as Turkey's president on Tuesday despite the objections of a powerful military that fears a creeping subversion of the country's secular order under the former Islamist. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's newly elected President Abdullah Gul (2nd R) attends the graduation ceremony of the Military Medical School in Ankara August 29, 2007. Gul is flanked by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R), Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan (3rd R), Toptan's wife Saime Toptan (3rd L), Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) and Buyukanit's wife Filiz Buyukanit (2nd L). Gul was sworn in as Turkey's president on Tuesday despite the objections of a powerful military that fears a creeping subversion of the country's secular order under the former Islamist. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's President Ahmet Necdet Sezer (R) reviews an honour guard with Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) as he makes a farewell visit in Ankara August 24, 2007. Turkey's new parliament continue voting on Friday in a presidential election which Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to win months after the country's secular elite blocked the former Islamist's first bid. Friday's vote is the second of up to four rounds and Gul, 56, is likely to be elected in the third session on Aug. 28 when he needs only a simple majority -- which the AK Party has. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) attends a wreath-laying ceremony with his Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (L) at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara August 1, 2007. Erdogan chairs the annual meeting of the High Military Council on Wednesday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (rear C) attends a wreath-laying ceremony with his Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (rear L) at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara August 1, 2007. Erdogan chairs the annual meeting of the High Military Council on Wednesday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) attends a wreath-laying ceremony with his Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (C) at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara August 1, 2007. Erdogan chairs the annual meeting of the High Military Council on Wednesday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (back) smiles as he talks to Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit as they leave the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, after a wreath-laying ceremony in Ankara August 1, 2007. Erdogan chairs the annual meeting of the High Military Council on Wednesday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) walks beside Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit (rear L) as he attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara August 1, 2007. Erdogan chairs the annual meeting of the High Military Council on Wednesday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit attend the annual meeting of the High Military Council in Ankara August 1, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit casts his vote in early parliamentary elections at a voting centre in a primary school in Ankara July 22, 2007. Turks began voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election pitting the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party against nationalists who disagree strongly over the future path of the rigidly secular Muslim country. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY) 

Turkey's Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit casts his vote in early parliamentary elections at a voting centre in a primary school in Ankara July 22, 2007. Turks began voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election pitting the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party against nationalists who disagree strongly over the future path of the rigidly secular Muslim country. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY)