The opposition stepped up pressure on Erdogan this week to annul the law which critics say effectively paves the way for the army to intervene in domestic affairs and carry out coups.

Addressing a rally in the southeastern town of Bingol, Erdogan proposed setting up a commission to consider abolishing the law, even though it is not part of his referendum package.

"If necessary we can take it on to the agenda at the start of the new legislative year," he said. "We can make a new revision of Article 35."

Known as Article 35, the law states that the army's role is to "watch over and protect" the country, entrenching the military as the main guardians of Turkey's secular system.

Erdogan made the remarks as he started campaigning ahead of the Sept. 12 referendum on reforms he says are needed to bring the constitution in line with those of European democracies.

His opponents have criticized the reform package, saying it is part of Erdogan' s efforts to tighten the ruling AK Party's control of state institutions after almost eight years in power.

Erdogan' s remarks on Saturday were seen as largely symbolic. Most analyst agree another coup is unlikely in Turkey after reforms have curbed the powers of the army in past years.

Addressing thousands of supporters in Bingol, Erdogan said he was committed to bringing democracy through reform. Many waved banners emblazoned with the word 'Yes' and chanted "Bingol is proud of you."

"Let us give democracy to future generations ... Every 'Yes' is an invitation to democracy, an invitation to justice, an invitation to freedom," he told the rally.

The referendum is seen as a test of Erdogan's support ahead of an election due by July 2011. Opinion polls point to growing opposition to Ak Party's dominance in the last two elections.

The reforms will change the make-up of the Constitutional Court and High Board of Judges and Prosecutors and the way their members are elected. The opposition says the reforms are designed to tighten the AK Party's grip on power.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the main opposition Republican People's Party leader, said the AK Party's main aim was to appoint judges sympathetic to the government.

"If you give a 'No' vote in the referendum, they will not have anywhere to hide," Kilicdaroglu said as he campaigned in the eastern province of Malatya