Papers critical of Ciller

ANKARA - Three large daily newspapers belonging to Turkey's two biggest press groups declared war on the Foreign Minister, Ms…

ANKARA - Three large daily newspapers belonging to Turkey's two biggest press groups declared war on the Foreign Minister, Ms Tansu Ciller, yesterday after she accused them of using up millions of dollars in state funds, and of being "monopolist."

The Milliyet and Hurriyet dailies, part of the Aydin Dogan group, and the Sabah newspaper, belonging to the Sabah group, accused Ms Ciller of "lying" and "manipulating figures."

Milliyet also reported Aydin Dogan's lawyers intended to press charges against the Foreign Minister.

In a public meeting in Istanbul on Saturday. Ms Ciller accused the groups of exercising monopolies, of "supporting company cartels," and of "praising a military coup d'etat."