"The significance of the principle of secularism, which is one of the basic qualities of the state, and (the need for) its careful protection has been emphasized," the council said in a statement after a lengthy meeting.

Its routine monthly session came amid tensions between the army and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the offspring of a banned Islamist movement, over accusations that the government is compromising Turkey's secular principles.

The council, which brings together the country's civilian and military leadership, is empowered with only making recommendations to the government, but its decisions are always implemented.

The military, the self-declared custodian of Turkey's secular system, was behind the removal of the first Islamist-led government in 1997.

The AKP, which came to power last November, has recently come under fire for allegedly appointing pro-Islamist cronies to government offices and supporting an expatriate Islamist group long suspected of promoting extremism.

The statement said the leaders also discussed developments concerning Iraq, the divided island of Cyprus and regional oil pipeline projects.

SPACE.WIRE