Turkish President Abdullah Gül finally stepped in the controversial over the political decision by the Elections Board to exclude 12 independent candidates from the 12 June elections. The president has left his statement with his chief press adviser, Ahmet Sever. The President, Sever said, is calling on everybody to be constructive to overcome the problem.

Sever quoted Gül as saying that elections should not be a matter of discussion and polemics and everybody should be sensitive about this issue.

After an examination of judicial records, the board ruled that 12 independent candidates, including Hatip Dicle, Leyla Zana, Sebahat Tuncel and Gültan Kýþanak, had previous convictions which prevented them from being elected deputies.