Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen and his supporters amid recent online leaks that have exposed major corruption.
“They are shameless,” said Erdogan during an election rally in Istanbul on Saturday, referring to Gulen and his supporters.
The Turkish premier has repeatedly accused Gulen and his followers of being behind the recent social media leaks and wiretaps that have led to a major corruption scandal.
Turkey began local elections on Sunday. The polls are considered as the first electoral test for Erdogan’s government since it has been hit with anti-government demonstrations and the corruption scandal.
“The vote you will cast tomorrow will expose this ring of treachery,” Erdogan also said at the rally, urging voters to support his Justice and Development Party (AKP).
In the latest leak, an audio recording was uploaded on YouTube on March 27, revealing a discussion among top Turkish security officials about possible military operations in Syria. The government says the leak was an “act of espionage.”
The Erdogan administration has launched internet restrictions, including blocking Twitter and YouTube, which has sparked protests from human rights organizations and the European Union.
Amnesty International says the restrictions amount to a “crude attempt at government censorship that will only generate deeper distrust and frustration.”
On Saturday, leader of opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu said in an election campaign that the government “has jeopardized the Republic of Turkey” and that there is “nothing left of our state institutions.”
Source/Fuente: http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/03/30/356532/erdogan-blames-rivals-fo...
