Turkey’s Prime Minister has launched a stinging attack on the country’s judiciary over its inquiry into bribery and corruption within the government.<br /><br />Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims he is the victim of a conspiracy that is threatening Turkey’s “future and stability”.<br /><br />Speaking to 45 prominent members of the Turkish media Erdogan said: “In this process, there has been a coup attempt by the judiciary in Turkey. There has been an attempt to seize the sovereignty from the people and transfer it to the judiciary.”<br /><br />Erdogan also claimed he has received a letter of reconciliation from the US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose followers are influential in Turkey’s police and judiciary.<br /><br />Many of Gulen’s followers see him as a more progressive and pro-Western influence than Erdogan, whose opinions on issues from abortion to alcohol consumption, and the concentration of power around him they view with increasing alarm.<br /><br />The corruption investigation, which has led to the<br />resignation of three ministers, poses the biggest challenge to Erdogan in his 11 years as leader.
