ANKARA
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has rejected as "baseless" claims that Anadolu Agency and its general manager Kemal Ozturk manipulated the reporting of results in the country's local elections.
"I think Anadolu Agency did its duty and has been very successful and helpful in its delivery of the [local elections] results. But accusations have not finished yet. Lastly, an AA correspondent in Bayburt [north-eastern Turkish city] was attacked," Arinc told Turkish TV channel NTV in an interview on Friday.
Anadolu Agency (AA), which broadcast directly from polling stations during March 30 polls, was criticized for allegedly supporting Turkey’s ruling AK Party.
The nationwide results broadcast by AA were confirmed to have been accurate by the High Election Board (YSK), which tallied the results the following day against what the AA's reports.
Earlier, AA had stressed its disappointment regarding the manipulation claims adding that, as a media organization, it could not change the results of an election and is at equal distance to all political parties.
AA Director General Kemal Ozturk has also come under fire for being in the AK Party headquarters on the election day.
Arinc said: "I know very well that he had not left work for 21 hours. There are some witnesses and proofs of it. He was together with employers in the agency.
"He may have gone to the AK Party headquarters with a query or for test the water, but these accusations towards our agency and its general manager are baseless."
The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister also called on journalists and media organizations to condemn the attack on Anadolu Agency and its correspondents adding: "The freedom of journalists should not be limited."
Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the AA's election coverage had come under attack from a "parallel state" and Fethullah Gulen-supported competitors.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
