"The main problem of the Turkish minority was that they were at the bottom of society, living in misery and ignorance," he said.

"On the negative side," he added, "is the question of their treatment of the Turkish minority."

According to members of the Turkish minority, it was the first time ethnic Turks had taken to the streets.

In recent years, the Turkish minority has shown an increased tendency to segregation and radical views.

Next to the economy, the other major campaign issue is nationalism, directed against the country's Turkish minority and by extension to Turkey.

On 10 May 1989, travel restrictions to foreign countries were partly lifted (only for the members of the Turkish minority).

However, there are ethnic differences within the 'Turkish' minority.

There is a 77,959 people strong Turkish minority in Macedonia, which makes up 3.85% of the total population of the country.

It was reported that a large section of the Turkish minority were considering boycotting the elections.

Netherlands' Turkish minority numbers 365,000 people, out of which 235,000 are eligible to vote.