Fırat: "The AKP won't bow to media blackmail"

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat yesterday said that the AKP would not give in any blackmail or threat from any media group. At a press conference, Firat accused Dogan media group head Aydin Dogan of trying to harm the government with false claims, in an effort to pressure it to make decisions favoring the group. "The government is determined to never yield to any blackmail or threat from any media group," he said. "We stand against media terror. We want respect for the right to respond to claims. And for this, we will continue our fight within the law until the end." He added, "Newspapers cannot be used as tools to reap undeserved profits in other areas of business." He also accused main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and opposition National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli of cooperating with the group against the government, and added, "You'll never find the group's newspapers covering claims about Baykal's assets."