Political parties in Turkey have begun consultations over the future of the Presidency, amid proposals for a constitutional amendment which would allow President Suleyman Demirel to serve a second term in office.

The proposals are supported by the Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, who argues that extending Mr Demirel's term, which expires in May, would be good for national stability.

But two right wing parties -- Mr Ecevit's coalition partner, the Nationalist Action Party MHP and the pro-Islamist Virtue Party -- have opposed an extension. A counter proposal from the Virtue Party suggests that in future the President should be elected by the Turkish people, rather than the parliament. Commentators suggest that given such opposition, Mr Ecevit may find it difficult to obtain the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to change the constitution.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service