Opposition's censure of PM rejected

Parliament rejected yesterday the request by opposition parties for a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for using his political power to the benefit of Calik Group in the Sabah-atv sale. During his address to Parliament, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal accused Erdogan of intervening in the sale process for the benefit of Calik Group. "The prime minister discouraged some businessmen who wanted to enter the sale process," said Baykal. Calik Group, with the partnership of Qatar-based Al Wasaeel International Media Company, bought mass circulation daily Sabah and one of the leading prime-time television channels, atv, for $1.1 billion.