Turkish protesters hold banners with a slogan meaning “Istanbul is being robbed"
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Irish Times - 23.12.2013
Thousands took to the streets of Istanbul yesterday to protest against the government over a corruption scandal that has led to multiple arrests and exposed a rift between prime minister Tayyip Erdogan and an influential US-based Muslim cleric.Twenty-four people, including the sons of two ministers and the head of state-owned Halkbank, have been formally charged in connection with the corruption inquiry that Erdogan has called a “dirty operation” to undermine his rule.In response, Mr Erdogan has sacked or moved to different posts about 70 police officers, including the powerful head of Istanbul’s force, in a widening crackdown on the force that launched the investigation.Mr Erdogan drew thousands of cheering supporters when he toured the north of the country yesterday. But in Istanbul, anti-government demonstrators flooded into Kadikoy Square, where a protest against government urbanisation plans had been due to take place, before they were largely dispersed
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