Turkey PM calls press freedom report 'a comedy'

ANKARA, Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has challenged a report critical of press freedom in Turkey, saying it used incorrect figures about the number of imprisoned journalists in the country.

Erdogan said the report had claimed that more than 40 journalists had been jailed, despite the fact there were actually only 18 journalists behind bars.

Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's parliamentary group meeting Tuesday, Erdogan said: "The report by the U.S.-based advocacy organization Freedom House -- claiming Turkey suffered a 'significant decline' in press freedom -- is nothing but a comedy, and not an objective report."

He said: "There are only 18 imprisoned journalists [in jail], while five of them hold press cards and all of them are convicted of different criminal offenses -- not because they are journalists.

"These 18 persons were sentenced to prison for the offenses of possessing dangerous materials, deprivation of liberty, deliberate injury, recruiting terrorists, murdering a police officer, bombing a helicopter, forgery of documents and bank robbery."

Elected president should be politician: Erdogan

Turkey’s first democratically elected president should be a politician, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday in criticism of remarks by the main opposition party leader affirming a candidate "out of politics."

"[Republican People's Party] head says the presidential candidates should not be party leaders. But does he not know history? Turkish republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal, was both the leader of the CHP, just as Ismet Inonu was," Erdogan said at an AK Party group meeting on Tuesday.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey's architect-in-chief, founded the Republican People's Party, or CHP, in 1919 as a union during the country's liberation war and led the party as Turkey's president until his death in 1938.    

Erdogan cited the examples of Turgut Ozal who was a politician before being a president and the current president Abdullah Gul who was first a foreign minister, and then a deputy prime minister, asking "Was there something not acceptable during their terms?"

He added that searching for candidates out of the political circle is just an example of coup mentality, as "in May 27, 1960."

In May 1960, Turkey's military overthrew then Prime Minister Adnan Menderes who was executed by hanging in September 1961.  

Erdogan confirmed that the AK Party continues its meticulous search for a presidential candidate, yet stopped short of identifying any names.

Erdogan has not ruled out his candidacy for Turkey's top post. 

"Turkey will be much more prosperous with a popularly elected president," Erdogan said.

Turkey's presidential hopefuls can submit their applications to the country's elections authority between 29 June and July 3.

The constitution was amended in 2007 for the president to be elected by the public, but the president's powers -- as a part of the executive body of the state -- have yet to be amended.

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