Turkey political crisis: Readers' views

The ongoing row over the presidency has exposed deep political and religious divisions in Turkey.

Here, four Turkish readers give their reaction to the political uncertainty and debate what should happen next.

EBRU TUTU, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

I don't believe anyone here could have predicted the chaos we're truly in.

As always, we stop listening to reason and started behaving emotionally.

The main danger in my country is the military, not the protesters or any other civilians.

The government and the army are locked in a bout of political wrestling.

The only way to prevent a military coup at this stage is to hold elections as soon as possible and elect a new president.

The people must be allowed to decide.

We have had many military coups here and all they brought is misery. We cannot allow it to happen again.

Also, the constitutional charter, which was drawn up by the army after the military coup in 1980, must be changed.

If the country goes to vote without changing this set of laws, then everything will stay the same.

ONUR CETINKAYA, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

This must be the final political battle over secularism Send us your comments

The constitutional court did what it had to do.

Whether it seems right or wrong, it was a necessary decision to cool down relations between the government, the army and the public.

At least now it is clear to everyone that the electoral, presidential and constitutional systems all have to be revised and restructured as soon as possible.

The Turkish president should be chosen outside of the assembly - by the public, not by parliament members.

It is our very own right to choose our leader and representative in the global political arena.

Secularism has been at stake since the 1950s in Turkey, but it has never been this crucial or urgent.

This must be the final political battle over secularism.

Turkey is the only secular and modern country which has an Islamic majority.

It is in everyone's interest that it stays that way.

BEKIR UGUR, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The constitutional court's decision is certainly a political outcome, not a legal one.

It was decided under pressure from the military, who I believe threatened the court with civil war unless it cancelled the outcome of the presidential election.

We certainly need new general elections as soon as possible to prevent further tension in Turkey.

Abdullah Gul should remain the AK Party candidate, but he should be elected by the people, not by parliament.

If not, the ruling elite will only continue to provoke tension in the future.

The current tension, however, has nothing to do with secularism and Islam.

It comes from the unwillingness of the state oligarchy to give ruling power to the chosen government.

MEHMET COLAK, ANKARA, TURKEY

I think the court made a political decision.

The court's judges are mostly appointed by the current president, who used all his influence in this instance to affect the ruling.

It was also a decision made under the heavy influence of the army.

For me the current problem in Turkey is not about secularism.

After all, the ruling AK Party members proved that they are trying to modernise the country, and they are the true believers of secularism.

Abdullah Gul and [Defence Minister] Vecdi Gonul are the best candidates to be our next president.

The general elections should be held as soon as possible.

The sooner elections are held, the less chance of further army intervention.