Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan urged Turks
to rally around him in fighting what he termed a dirty plot by
foreign-backed elements targeting "the bread on your table, the money
in your pocket, the sweat of your brow".
"History will not forgive those who have become mixed up in this game,"
Erdogan said in a televised end of year address devoted almost entirely to a
corruption investigation he says has been engineered in police and judiciary
to undermine his government and sap its influence in the Middle East and
beyond.
Police raided offices and homes and detained businessmen close to the
government and the sons o
f three ministers on Dec. 17. Erdogan responded by purging some 70 officers connected with the inquiry and blocking a second investigation into big infrastructure projects promoted by Erdogan.
f three ministers on Dec. 17. Erdogan responded by purging some 70 officers connected with the inquiry and blocking a second investigation into big infrastructure projects promoted by Erdogan.
"I invite every one of our 76 million people to stand up for themselves,
to defend democracy and to be as one against these ugly attacks on our
country," he said.
The scandal poses the biggest challenge to Erdogan in 11 years as leader,
raising fears of a fracture in his AK Party in the run-up to elections and
damage to strong economic growth.
It also pitches him against a U.S.-based Turkish cleric with strong influence in the police and judiciary, accused by Erdogan's backers of conniving at the investigation. The former ally, Fethullah Gulen, denies the allegation.
It also pitches him against a U.S.-based Turkish cleric with strong influence in the police and judiciary, accused by Erdogan's backers of conniving at the investigation. The former ally, Fethullah Gulen, denies the allegation.
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