Ankara, Oct 15 (IANS): Turkey has decided to shorten the period of its mandatory military service by three months, the government said Tuesday.

Legislation that will shorten Turkey's compulsory military service from 15 to 12 months is expected to start next month, reported Xinhua citing Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc in an announcement.

"Preliminary studies on the issue have been conducted for a while," said Arinc, adding that privates who served for at least 12 months will be immediately released and new conscripts will serve for 12 months accordingly.

About two weeks ago, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a TV channel that researchers were studying how to shorten military service.

Days after Erdogan's statement, the general staff of the Turkish armed forces announced the government agreed to shorten the compulsory military service of male citizens from 15 to 12 months.

The duration of the short-term military service, for which university students can apply, will remain six months, it added.

Conscription is mandatory for every man of over 18 years, having a Turkish nationality. Men serve between six and 15 months in the army, according to the level of their studies and the military post they apply to.