[caption id="attachment_136606" align="alignright" width="190"] Turkish riot police advance during clashes with protesters in Istanbul (file photo).[/caption]
Turkish police have raided a television station and a newspaper close to a self-exiled US-based cleric, detaining some people, media reports say.
Police launched simultaneous operations in different parts of the city of Istanbul and provinces across Turkey, arresting people, among them a top executive of a television channel close to cleric Fethullah Gulen, TRT Harber reported.

The raid comes two days after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signaled a fresh campaign against supporters of his rival, Gulen, vowing to pursue them “in their lairs.”

Erdogan has repeatedly accused Gulen and his supporters of being behind last year’s online leaks and wiretaps that exposed major corruption with the investigations targeting Erdogan's inner circle.

The former prime minister and the current president said the investigations were a plot orchestrated by supporters of the cleric and aimed to topple him.

Gulen, a former ally of Erdogan, denies the charge. His Hizmet (Service) movement was a main supporter of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) when it came to power in 2003. The alliance, however, broke apart after several Erdogan’s key people were arrested in police raids in last December’s graft probe.

The corrupting investigation prompted Erdogan to replace 10 ministers. He also dismissed hundreds of police and prosecutors believed to be linked to the cleric.

By Press TV

 

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