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GV TOP PAN OVER Large crowd gathered outside the National Movement Party headquarters in Ankara. Crowd singing and chanting
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TV Members of dead man's family carry portrait
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TV Coffin draped in Turkish flag being carried by crowd (2 shots)
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SV PAN ALONG Peasant women wearing portraits of dead man
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TV Coffin is placed on catafalque for prayers
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SV members of dead man's family standing around coffin as prayers are said (3 shots)
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SV Crowd carrying coffin forward
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TV PAN Security forces line route of funeral procession (2 shots)
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Turkey, tension is continuing to rise over the killing of a leading right-wing politician in Ankara on Tuesday (27 May). At least 37 people have died since Mr. Gun Sazak, deputy-chairman of the extreme right Nationalist Movement Party was shot outside his home.

SYNOPSIS: About 50,000 of his supporters staged a massive show of force at his funeral ceremony in Ankara on Friday (30 May). The coffin was carried above the crowed as the procession made its slow way towards the Haci Bayram mosque in the old Town centre. The crowd was watched by the heaviest military security seen in the city for years.

Since the killing, left and right wing politicians have accused each other of inciting a popular uprising. Eyewitnesses said tension in many towns was at the highest pitch in living memory. Troops patrolled the streets and tanks were rolled into key positions in many towns while day-time curfews were imposed in others.

Since politicians rallies are banned under material law, the mourners chanted only "Allahu Ekber" -- "God is great" as they moved towards the mosque.

Members of the dead men's family, and leading members of the Nationalist Movement Party led the Procession. The cry, "God is great" was not without political significance. The party leans heavily on religious slogans since its grass roots support comes from devout Anatolian peasants.

Thousands of these peasants, most wearing pictures of Mr. Sazak on their lapels pressed forward anxious to get close to the coffin. Mr. Sazak is the highest ranking victim of the Turkish political violence so far. Fifteen hundred Turks have died at the hands of political extremists so far this year. The size of the march, and the presence of security forces, has underlined the view by observers that there is growing move towards both political extremes in Turkey due to disillusionment with the two main parties.