Gul pardons former PM Erbakan

President Abdullah Gul yesterday pardoned Necmettin Erbakan, 81, former prime minister and former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP), citing the elderly politician's fragile health. According to the Presidential Press Center, Erbakan's condition did not allow his house arrest to continue. Erbakan had been convicted of falsifying party records to hide RP funds slated to be seized after the party was disbanded.