Turkey mulling committee to audit top spy agency

ANKARA

The Turkish government is planning to set up a parliamentary committee to scrutinize Turkey's top spy agency, the country's deputy prime minister said Tuesday. 

Besir Atalay said the standing body, which would be called the Security and intelligence Committee, would also audit intelligence gathering units of the police and paramilitary forces, a financial crime investigation board.

The Turkish Parliament has been debating the bill for the last week. If enacted, it would govern the work of the country's top spy agency, the National Intelligence Organization. The proposed committee is part of that draft legislation.

Atalay said the bill is expected to come to the floor of the general assembly late Wednesday or Thursday.  

The new body would be established along the lines of another standing parliamentary committee, which audits state-owned economic enterprises. 

englishnews@aa.com.tr