Tayyip Erdogan, leader of Turkey's ruling party, won a by-election on Sunday, propelling him from the sidelines of Turkish politics toward his long-awaited goal of becoming prime minister. But Erdogan's first days in office, which could begin as early as this week, were likely to be consumed with the dual foreign policy issues of Iraq and Cyprus.

As Washington and nervous investors wait impatiently, Erdogan indicated on Sunday it might be some days before he asks parliament to reconsider a U.S. request to deploy up to 62,000 troops on Turkish soil in preparation for any war against Iraq.

Parliament on March 1 narrowly rejected Washington's request, shaking the government and ties with its key NATO ally.
Erdogan on Sunday cited concern for the future of Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq and problems with a U.S. aid package Ankara says it must gain to protect its fragile economy.

Washington says it may abandon a "northern front" on Baghdad via Turkey's southern border and an accompanying loan pact worth up to dlrs 30 billion if Ankara does not swiftly approve its plans.

But Turkey wants Washington to pledge concrete steps to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq, fearing independence there may spark unrest among its own Kurds.

Erdogan must also deal with an impasse on the divided island of Cyprus, where Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash opposes a deal on a U.N. peace plan ahead of the island's accession to the European Union. Erdogan's actions will be seen as key to Turkey's own ambitions to join the EU.

PHOTO CAPTION

Turkey's ruling party Justice and Development Party leader Tayyip Erdogan smiles as he appears amongst his party deputies and bodyguards in his office in Ankara March 9, 2003, after winning Turkish by-elections in Siirt which sent him to parliament. (Fatih Saribas/Re