Turkish Prime Minister Tayipp Erdogan addresses thousands at the Istanbul airport as he returns from a trip to the provinces.<br/> <br />The embattled leader is facing an unprecedented crisis over a high-level corruption scandal.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Sovereignty does not belong to the judiciary. Sovereignty does not belong to the government either. It belongs to the people."<br/> <br />While his supporters may have been out in force -- his detractors are not going quietly into the night.<br/> <br />Outrage spills into the streets.<br/> <br />The scandal has forced three ministers to resign and a cabinet reshuffle.<br/> <br />The Turkish economy, whose rapid growth has been a showpiece of his rule -- is now vulnerable.<br/> <br />With his ruling AK Party under pressure speculation is rife that he might call early general elections next year.<br/> <br />One party official told Reuters that an early election could help arrest the slide.
