Lawsuit threatened to close ruling AK Party in Turkey

TURKEY: A top Turkish state prosecutor says he will take legal action against officials or media who have criticised his decision…

TURKEY:A top Turkish state prosecutor says he will take legal action against officials or media who have criticised his decision to seek the closure of the ruling AK Party for suspected Islamist activities.

The move comes amid heightened political tension in Turkey, where a secular elite, including judges and army generals, is at loggerheads with the Islamist-rooted government over the role of Islam in the country.

Prime minister Tayyip Erdogan, who denies any Islamist agenda, has called the attempt to close down his party an attack on democracy.

Pro-government media say the indictment amounts to a "judicial coup", evoking memories of past army coups against Turkish governments. The European Union has also criticised the lawsuit.