Turkey: leaks prompt more arrests

Turkish authorities arrested eight police officers and searched their homes in the southeastern province of Adana on Tuesday as Erdogan's government continued its pursuit of persons who allegedly posted leaked recordings online.

The arrests reported by the Dogan news agency and the television chancel CNN Turk followed Erdogan's warning during a municipal election victory speech last week that he would hunt down his opponents "in their lair" and make them "pay the price."

The phone leaks - although not independently verified - painted an image of corruption and power abuses within the government of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Erdogan's party in turn accused a one-time ally, US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, of trying to install a "parallel state" in Turkey.

Ban lifting 'wrong'

Reuters on Tuesday quoted Erdogan as telling his AKP that a recent Turkish constitutional court ruling that lifted a ban on the social network Twitter was wrong.

The court decision should be "corrected," said Erdogan who has been sharply critical of the constitutional court's ruling on Twitter.

YouTube, which remains blocked by telecommunications authorities who cited a court order, on Monday filed an appeal to the constitutional court.

The global provider Google, which owns YouTube, said it was "actively challenging" the ban.

YouTube was blocked by Turkey after the posting of a leaked recording in which top officials appeared to discuss a possible military intervention in northern Syria.

The EU last week warned Turkey that its media crackdown put on hold long-running plans for EU accession.

ipj/kms (dpa, Reuters)