Breaking News English

Turkish police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against protestors outside aanthe offices of aanthe national newspaper in Istanbul. aanthe demonstrators were protesting against aanthe takeover of aanthe private newspaper by aanthe Turkish government. Turkish authorities seized control of aanthe company that owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. aanthe paper was once aanthe supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became one of his fiercest critics. Authorities say Zaman has links to aanthe US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who aanthe government says plotted aanthe coup to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it is another blow for freedom in Turkey.

aanthe takeover of Zaman by aanthe Turkish government has sparked concerns in Europe about Turkey's readiness to join aanthe European Union. European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said aanthe latest developments jeopardised recent progress made by Turkey. The chairman of Germany's foreign affairs committee said, " aanthe violent action against aanthe critical newspaper" and " aanthe fact that the government takes over the whole paper is aanthe severe blow…against aanthe freedom of press". The editor-in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper lamented: "Our [final] headline is about us again, and that should give aanthe idea about the kind of democracy in aanthe country. There's no rule of law left in Turkey."