EU voices concern over Turkey as graft scandal deepens
The European Union voiced its concern Wednesday over the political turmoil convulsing Turkey as the government conducted a new mass purge of senior police officers, AFP reports.
In its strongest comments yet on the widening corruption scandal engulfing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the EU called for Turkish authorities to ensure they acted impartially.
The turmoil has rocked Erdogan’s government to its very core just weeks before crucial local elections in March and has sent Turkish financial markets tumbling.
In the latest development, 16 police chiefs in several major cities including Ankara, Izmir, Antalya and Diyarbakir as well as the deputy head of national security, were fired Wednesday under a decree signed by Interior Minister Efkan Ala.