There was fighting on the floor of Turkey’s parliament after the passing of a bill giving the country’s justice minister more power. <br /><br />Local news reports say an MP for the main opposition party was taken to hospital with a broken nose and another politician suffered broken fingers. <br /><br />Debating on the proposed reforms lasted more than 20 hours. Those against the changes say they limit the judiciary’s independence.<br /><br />The plans drew criticism from the EU when Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Brussels last month. <br /><br />Erdogan argues the judiciary is under the influence US-based cleric Fethullah Gullen.<br /><br />The prime minister blames former ally Gullen for instigating the corruption investigation that has wreaked havoc on Erdogan’s administration. There have been resignations from his cabinet, a reshuffle and the arrests of three sons of ministers – two of whom have been charged.<br /><br />Protesters are angry that the inquiry appears to have uncovered graft in such close proximity to the prime minister. <br /><br />Erdogan has sacked or reassigned judges and top police officers who he accuses of acting politically.
