Baykal calls on Istanbulites to protect the city

Campaigning in Istanbul over the weekend for next Sunday's local elections, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized how the government has dealt with case against the Lighthouse Foundation, a German-based charity run by Turks. Touching on the ongoing Ergenekon probe, Baykal stated that while the Lighthouse case has subject to a media blackout, this hasn't applied to Ergenekon. Baykal said that the national debt has more than doubled from $220 billion from 2002 when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) took office to $500 billion today. Baykal urged Istanbulites to protect the city, a source of pride for Turkey.