The Turkish Prime Minister-designate, Yalim Erez, has said he expects to form a new government next week and so end political deadlock in the country.

Speaking at the end of talks with party leaders, Mr Erez aid he would draw up a cabinet that could win a record level of support in parliament.

Correspondents say Mr Erez, a former trade minister, has to reconcile the conflicting conditions set by his main potential partners -- the pro-Islamist Virtue Party and the secular Motherland and Democratic Left parties.

Their conditions include the holding of local and general elections in April 1999 as scheduled.