Crowds gathered in Istanbul on Friday where a court ordered that eight police officers be kept in custody pending a possible trial over accusations they spied on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his inner circle. <br /><br />Other policemen among dozens detained this week were freed to the delight of supporters who say the investigation by Turkish authorities is politically motivated.<br /><br />Tuesday’s operation followed a stream of purges targeting the police, judiciary and state institutions this year which government critics have condemned as a symptom of Erdogan’s tightening grip.<br /><br />Erdogan is a candidate in Turkey’s forthcoming presidential election. Concern about his autocratic style has been fuelled by his intention to boost the powers of the presidency, if he is elected.
