Turkey’s Constitutional Court has partly overturned a controversial judicial bill demanding a redefinition of the justice ministers competences.<br /><br />The court said in a statement it had cancelled articles granting the justice minister powers over the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors which makes judicial appointments.<br /><br />Increasing the powers of the justice minister in law was seen as a response by the government to the alleged corruption scandal which had threatened to engulf Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.<br /><br />The headlines in the country’s daily newspapers summed up the move saying it will, “shake Ankara”. Two referred to the decision as “a bomb”<br /><br />President Abdullah Gul had approved the law in February but warned the government that some elements were incompatible with the Constitution.<br /><br />The disputed bill was passed after a tense session in parliament and was marked by brawls and fistfights between law makers.<br /><br />The Constitutional Court also ruled on the contentious issue of twitter saying it was illegal for it to be banned in the country.<br /><br />The government’s first reactions to the courts decision came from the deputy prime minister who said “we will make an assessment after examining the detailed ruling.”
