Although President Sezers official time in office ended on 16 May, the unsuccessful presidential elections at the end of April have left him in office until a new president is elected. Bianet has taken a look at his life and presidential career.

The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) has announced that out of around 250 applicants, 75 candidates will be chosen to stand as independent candidates in the upcoming elections. 10 or more women will be among them.

The President of the Constitutional Court, Tülay Tugcu has announced that the court would file a complaint against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his comments on the courts decision regarding the presidential election in April.

2006 Nobel litterature prize laureate Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk who took part in the literary festival in Hay on Wye, Wales, said that he does not feel like a writer in exile. His new book will appear in December.

The Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) has called for the rejection of the law which would increase the power of the police force. Everyone would be a potential criminal and it would be serious attack against personal freedoms, it said.

The names of possible independent election candidates from the left are emerging. The left and the pro-Kurdish DTP are collaborating in Western cities. Meanwhile people in the street comment on their experiences of present government and of their hopes.

The recent violation of Turkish airspace by an American fighter plane has caused an increase in diplomatic activity between the two countries. US ambassador Wilson called it an accident. The US is surprised that the violation was made public.

A provisional law which would give the police greater freedoms in searching, using guns, collecting personal information, archiving and using it, has been accepted by the Parliamentary Justice Commission.

The 5th Istanbul Meeting for Freedom of Expression which took place from 26-27 May at Istanbul Bilgi University ended with a regional forum in which Turkish writers and academics spoke about restrictions.

The Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) has reacted to the passing of a bill on 22 May which foresees criminal punishment for publishing remarks considered insulting to the memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

In order to represent the left in parliament, leftist political parties and NGOs have decided to field independent candidates. Meanwhile the order of parties on the ballot paper has been announced.

Third party lawyer Ömer Kavili has complained about the lack of transparency in the Return to Life trial, as well as the disappearance of hundreds of witnesses. More than 30 people died when security forces raided prison facilities in 2000.

Five human rights representatives are being tried for a report they wrote on the shooting of a child by security forces. As three of the activists are lawyers, the case has been postponed, awaiting permission of Ministry of Justice to proceed.

The teachers trade union Egitim-Sen has voiced suspicions that the murder of one of its members, literature teacher Deprem Sarikas, last week may be political. Two days before the murder, Sarikas had been attacked by a group with knives.

Although the government does not cease to claim that European countries have articles similar to Article 301 of the Turkish constitution, foreign freedom of speech activists rejected this claim in the 5th Istanbul Meeting for Freedom of Expression.

Government politicians comments on a possible military operation in Northern Iraq, and the militarys reply to these comments have created speculation in the media. America has also reacted.

Turkish and foreign social scientists came together in Istanbul this weekend to discuss the concept of Europe from an anthropological perspective. Also discussed were relations between Turkey and Europe, and the state of anthropology.

Arguing that the proposed changes to the constitution in relation to presidential elections would bring about a change in system, President Sezer has vetoed the proposed amendment.

Changes have been made to the regulations for foreigners applying for work permits. Foreign architects and engineers are permitted to work without the approval of professional chambers. The definition of foreigner has changed.

Journalist Karaca, who had received a prison sentence converted to a fine in his trial under Article 301, is being retried because there was a procedural error in the court proceedings. The first sitting is scheduled for June 20.