( dpa ) - Turkey is to allow Turks living outside the country to vote in elections, reports said Tuesday.
The cabinet decision will be referred to parliament. It would allow Turks living abroad to vote in Turkey's parliamentary and presidential elections and referendums via postal or electronic vote.
Voters would be allowed to vote only for party candidates and not independent candidates. In elections in July 2006 the pro-Kurdish DTP bypassed the 10-per-cent hurdle to get into parliament by putting independent candidates up for election.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, around 4.8 million Turks were living abroad in 2006. More than half - 2.5 million - were living in Germany.