The Turkish prime minister-designate, Yalim Erez, has said he hopes to announce this week the formation of a new government, despite moves by a key rival to revive an alternative plan.

The True Path Party leader, Tansu Ciller, has changed her mind and said she will, after all, back the attempts of Mr Erez's predecessor, Bulent Ecevit, to form a minority secular government.

Mr Ecevit's attempt collapsed after Mrs Ciller refused to support him.

Mr Erez has since been negotiating with the pro-Islamist opposition on forming a broad-based majority government.

But the BBC Ankara Correspondent says many commentators think his chance has gone with support for Mr Ecevit coming also from the outgoing prime minister, Mesut Yilmaz.