国际英语新闻：Turks go to polls on controversial constitutional reforms

On the voting day, sale of alcohol is forbidden across Turkey while the press is not allowed to publish or comment on the referendum at all until 6 p.m. (1500 GMT).

Pollsters calling on people to vote for the amendments were erected by the government on streets of the capital months ahead of the referendum, while AKP and opposition leaders have travelled around the country for campaigns.

Opposition in the parliament including the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have campaigned for a "no" vote at the referendum, while the pro- Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) boycotts the vote, arguing the government had not take their requests into consideration through the preparation process of the package.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Sunday political arguments about the package were part of multiple-party democracy and that some provoking remarks made by political leaders during their campaign should stay in the past.

"Whatever the result is, everybody should be mature about it and respect the result," Gul told reporters after casting his vote at an elementary school in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Among the most heavily-debated amendment proposals are those to require the permission of a parliamentary commission for closure of political parties, allow civilian court trial of military personnel in certain crimes and overhaul the judiciary.

The article that would make it harder to close political parties was rejected during parliament voting.

Opponents have slashed the proposals, arguing the government sees the judiciary as a stronghold for traditional secular elites hostile to the AKP and some of its reforms. They also suspect the AKP of having an Islamist agenda.

The AKP denies that charge and has accused the judiciary of blocking reforms and intervening in the parliament.

The Constitutional Court in July rejected a request by the secularist opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to cancel the entire package, but annulled some key articles that would curb the power of the judiciary and the military.

Two of the articles annulled would widen the selection of candidates for membership at the Constitutional Court and another powerful judicial body and give parliament and the president a bigger say in the appointment. The articles left aim to grant more civil rights and increase civilian oversight of the army.

Recent surveys showed divided opinions among the voters, with a close match between the "yes" and "no" votes.

The European Union has backed the amendments as necessary for more democracy and civil rights. However, it has complained about inadequate debate and explanation about the package during the campaign ahead of the referendum.

Seker Erdogan, a 52-year-old housewife living in Ankara, says she doesn't really understand what's going on after casting her vote.

"I don't know what the package is about, God knows!" she says.