Turkish govt pushes reforms to revamp judiciary

ANKARA - Turkey's ruling AK Party won parliamentary backing for constitutional reforms on Friday, clearing the way for a referendum secularist critics aim to block as a threat to the Muslim country's secular order.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says the reforms, overhauling the judiciary and making the army answerable to civilian courts, simply meet European Union entry demands. Political enemies see a furtive attempt to seize control of all levers of state.

"The reform package has been approved ... Let it bring good things to our country," parliament speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin said after lawmakers passed the bill.