Deniz Baykal, the former chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has shown indications of emerging from the coma, his doctor said Wednesday.

Ankara University Rector Professor Ercan İbiş said the 79-year-old veteran politician is not in a deep coma and is already showing signs of improvement. Baykal was put in a medically-induced coma after undergoing three operations at Ankara University's İbn-i Sina Hospital due to a blood clot in a major artery to his brain.

İbiş said Baykal's recovery could take weeks, adding that his current respiratory rate is sufficient although he still needs mechanical ventilation assistance on regular basis.

Baykal was first hospitalized after complaints about weakness on the left side of his body.

Doctors from brain surgery, neurology, radiology and anesthesia departments investigated the reason of the complaint, observing that one of the major veins of the brain was blocked, causing weakness in the patient's arms and legs.

A fixture in the Turkish political scene for over 40 years, Baykal has served in cabinets as a minister and deputy prime minister. He also served as a leader of the CHP for a total of 17 years and left the post in 2010.