The BBC's Jenifer Jensen: "Turkey has had a history of politcal stability"

Yalim Erez, formally the trade minister, is beginning talks with the leader of the Islamist Virtue Party.

The party, the largest in parliament, has remained in opposition because Turkish secularists, including the military, objected to its religious stance.

The previous Prime Minister-designate, Bulent Ecevit, failed in his attempt to form a secularist coalition government. He is also expected to hold talks with Mr Erez.

Speaking before the talks began, Mr Erez said that he believed he was "up to the challenge" of forming a new government and solving the political impasse in the country.

Erez: 'Up to the challenge'

Turkey has had five governments in three years and Mr Erez said that the country has never had a greater need for stability.

He said he was aiming to build a broad-based coalition to take Turkey to its general election in April 1999, taking place almost two years ahead of schedule.