The Turkish parliament has formally approved a package of key democratic reforms, designed to improve the country's chances of European Union membership.

The package consists of the following measures:

• An end to the death penalty in peacetime and its replacement with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Capital punishment will, however, remain on the statute books for wartime.

• TV and radio broadcasts allowed in languages other than Turkish but not in contravention of principles of national sovereignty laid out in the constitution - thereby allowing broadcasts in Kurdish. The higher board of radio and television will act as regulator.

• Kurdish dialects to be taught in special courses at private schools, under the regulation of the Ministry of Education.

• An end to penalties for written, vocal or pictorial criticism of state institutions, including the armed forces.

• The easing of restrictions on public demonstrations and association, allowing 48-hour notification to the authorities.

• The easing of restrictions on both foreign and local non-governmental organisations working in the country.

• Tougher penalties for people and organ smugglers, and those who help them, especially if the lives of immigrants are endangered.

• Greater freedom for non-Muslim minority religions.

• Revision of press laws and regulations.

• Changes to laws and regulations defining the duties of the police.

• Sentences of up to 10 years for persons found to be profiting from forced labour.