Investigation launched against Turkish newspaper

ANKARA

An investigation was launched Monday into a Turkish newspaper’s tweet that is said to have misquoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an Istanbul prosecutor’s office said.

Bakirkoy Deputy Chief Prosecutor Idris Kurt will investigate executives responsible for the Hurriyet’s website and social media feed over claims of insulting the president -- an offense that can carry a prison term of up to four years.

A statement from the prosecutor did not name any of those accused by name.

On Sunday, the newspaper tweeted: "Daglica comment from Erdogan: 'This would not have happened if 400 deputies had been given’".

The post, which was quickly deleted while an online headline was changed, followed a televised interview with Erdogan in which he talked about a deadly attack by PKK terrorists on soldiers in Daglica, Hakkari province, earlier Sunday.

He later answered a separate question about the 400 deputies that could have resulted single party government after the June general election.

The Hurriyet tweet sparked outrage and more than a group of nearly 200 people attacked the newspaper’s offices in Istanbul within hours.

According to the prosecutor’s statement, the newspaper executives are said to have "distorted the words President Erdogan didn’t say and carried out a perception operation".