Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer formally ratified...

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer formally ratified a package of human rights reforms aimed at preparing the country for European Union membership, his official Web site said. Turkey's parliament passed the package, which included lifting the death penalty in peacetime and ending bans on education and broadcasting in the Kurdish language.
The package becomes law as soon as the president's decision is published in the Official Gazette, which could be as early as August 9.