Erdogan slamks Baykal's claims on Ergenekon probe

Speaking to his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "We aren't lawyers for the mafia or a gang. People who showered praise on Italy's operation Clean Hands against organized crime networks now criticize the government over the Ergenekon probe. This stance is telling." He was responding to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Baykal's claims that the government is using the Ergenekon probe to quash its opponents. Characterizing the probe as Turkey's version of the Italian operation, Erdogan said, "The government will continue to carry out its duties as assigned by the judiciary." Erdogan also criticized the opposition for failing to make constructive criticisms or working to improve the nation's morale. "They haven't made a single recommendation that might point to a better way. That's because they have none," he said. "They don't have any projects to tackle the nation's problems." He also said Turkey must sooner or later shake off the illegal remnants of the Cold War era, and pledged to protect democracy, the rights of the people, and the values of the republic.