ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s state-run news agency says 25 more police officers have been detained across Turkey as authorities press ahead with a crackdown on officers suspected of illegally wiretapping Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials.
The Anadolu Agency said the officers were detained in raids carried out in 13 provinces on Tuesday.
Since July, dozens of officers have been jailed pending trial over illegal wiretaps.
The government says the officers are associated with a moderate Islamic movement led by a U.S.-based cleric, which it accuses of attempting to topple the government. Critics say the crackdown aims to silence those who brought corruption charges against government officials, including Erdogan’s inner circle.
Erdogan, who becomes president on Aug. 28, has vowed to battle the group.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
