ISTANBUL -- Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Tuesday urged Economy Minister Kemal Dervis to either stop trying to set up a rival political group or quit the government.

"It is not acceptable for the treasury minister to be going from door to door trying to direct the course of politics," Ecevit told CNN Turk television in a second open warning to the architect of Turkey's $16-billion IMF accord in as many days. "Our patience as a party is exhausted," Ecevit said. "The time has come for a warning, a reminder... It is up to Dervis whether to part company or not."

A spokesman for Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP) made similar warnings on Monday.

Financial markets slumped last month when Dervis resigned briefly to join a new political party formed by defectors from Ecevit's party. Dervis withdrew his resignation on urgings from the president and has yet officially to join any party.

Market reaction to Ecevit's comments on Tuesday was limited.

Few believe that Ecevit would invite economic problems by forcing Dervis to quit, although he might be able to force him to tone down his public campaigning.

Dervis told a meeting of businessmen in the western Turkish city of Eskisehir that he was dedicated to staying in office.

"My priority now is the ministry... Until the day it ends or the day it has to end it is essential i do that," he said, denying his appearance on Tuesday had any overt political aim.

"Of course you can't separate the two but my aim in coming here is not to carry out politics or a political meeting from Eskisehir but to discuss the economy and social problems," he said.

His speech was dominated by analysis of the economic problems that have forced Turkey to become the IMF's biggest borrower with over $30 billion of loans paid out or pledged.

Foreign exchange traders blamed the uncertainty over the economy minister's status for a fall in the value of the lira to 1,650,000 to the dollar from around 1,629,000 on Monday.

"Ecevit's remarks continued the discomfort started by the DSP spokesman yesterday," said one banker who asked not to be named.

Dervis, an independent seen by financial markets as a linchpin of the IMF deal, says he must stay in government to enact IMF policies but has also been meeting rival party leaders, trying to forge an alliance ahead of November 3 elections.

"Dervis cannot continue this. He has to understand it. Dervis will find the solution," Ecevit said.