Turkish government crumbling

By Selcan Hacaoglu, Ankara

Three ministers had resigned Monday, including Deputy Premier Husamettin Ozkan. He was ordered to quit by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit following rumours that Ozkan was negotiating in secret with coalition partners to replace the ailing premier.

Ozkan's departure triggered an exodus of party legislators who are tired of Ecevit's iron-fisted way of ruling the party and believe the government is crumbling under a premier in poor health and unwilling to surrender power.