In a fresh attempt to solve Turkey's month-long political deadlock, President Suleyman Demirel has asked an independent deputy, Yalim Erez, to form a new government.

Yalim Erez: Tasked with resolving Turkey's political crisis

Mr Erez is the minister of trade and industry in the outgoing government which was toppled by corruption allegations - but he currently belongs to no political party.

His appointment follows the failure of the former prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, to form a government.

Yalim Erez is a relatively recent arrival on Turkey's political scene, but he has already gained a reputation as a man who can make deals between rival factions.

He will need to employ all those skills if he is to succeed in forming a government.

Opposition to Islamists

He says he intends to create a broad-based government. But the centre-right True Path party has already indicated that it won't support him.

Mr Erez resigned from True Path last year when it was part of an Islamist-led coalition. His opposition to the Islamists suggests that he will not ask the pro-Islamist Virtue Party to join a government now, but he has not yet ruled that option out.

If Virtue is excluded, that will make things even more difficult, because it is the largest party in parliament.

Despite all the obstacles he faces, the ambitious Mr Erez seems undeterred.

Early election

He says he will not waste the trust placed in him by the president. If he is unable to win the support of the majority of deputies, he could be asked to stay on as prime minister anyway.

Turkey is due to hold an early election next April, so any new government will only hold office for a short period.