Ankara - Turkey removed a military judge from the three-an panel trying Kurdish guerrilla leader Mr Abdullah Ocalan yesterday, heading off criticism from the European Court of Human Rights.
Parliament voted by 431 votes to 42 to amend the constitution, excluding the military member from all State Security Courts (DGMs). When Mr Ocalan's trial resumes on Wednesday, the officer will be replaced by a substitute civilian judge who has attended hearings since it started on May 31st.