Erdogan: "We're locked in a struggle between forces for and against Turkey's transformation"

Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the AKP has no links to new detentions as part of the Ergenekon probe. Saying he has no information about yesterday's developments, he added that the detentions are part of a prosecutor's indictment, which he said should be completed as soon as possible. "But some circles can't stand democracy in Turkey," he added. "Whenever Turkey tries to stand on its own two feet, whenever it grows stronger, these circles erect hurdles before it." Saying that Turkish politics is locked in a struggle between forces in favor of the nation's transformation and ones opposing it, Erdogan added, "While some want Turkey to become a global power, others want to maintain the country's status quo."