Details were added (first version was published at 16:32)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 25
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
An announcement of new ministers replacing those that resigned in Turkey's corruption scandal may be made today, according to the Turkish newspaper Milliyet.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will announce the new cabinet of ministers today following a meeting with President Abdullah Gul, according to the newspaper.
The newspaper also said that Efkan Ala can be appointed interior minister instead of Muammer Guler and Numan Kurtulmush can be appointed economy minister.
Additionally, Omar Chelik can be appointed minister for European integration instead of Egemen Bagis and Alparslan Kavaklyoglu can be appointed defense minister instead of Ismet Yilmaz. Moreover, it is expected that YIlmaz will be appointed communications minister.
It was earlier reported that Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag can be appointed interior minister instead of Muammer Guler.
Turkish Ministers of Economy and Internal Affairs Zafer Caglayan and Muammer Guler named in the corruption scandal, resigned today.
Minister of Environment and Urban Planning, Erdogan Bayraktar, who is also involved in the scandal, resigned on Dec.25 too. He also abandoned his deputy mandate.
Commenting on his resignation, Zafer Caglayan said he made this decision so that details of the corruption scandal can be clarified.
According to the Turkish law, a minister's immunity has to be removed in order to bring him to justice.
It was earlier reported that the Turkish court addressed the country's parliament with an inquiry in regard to the persons involved in the corruption scandal.
The name of the Minister for European Union Affairs, Egemen Bagis was also mentioned in the scandal.
Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on Dec.17, resulting in the arrest of 52 people that includes businessmen and sons of some ministers.
The businessmen are accused of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.
Among those detained were the sons of some ministers, who are the members of Turkey's ruling party - Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's son, Salih Kaan Caglayan and Interior Minister Muammar Guler's son Baris Guler, Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar's son Oguz Bayraktar. All three were detained on suspicion of corruption.
Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality, Mustafa Demir, director general of Turkish Halkbank Suleyman Aslan and famous entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu were arrested during the same operation by police. Searches were conducted at Halkbank's office.
Mustafa Demir and Ali Agaoglu were released on Dec.21.
Translated by E.A.,L.Z.
Edited by C.N.