Turkey's interior minister resigns over lockdown decision, Erdogan rejects

Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Sunday (April 12) he was resigning from his post over the implementation of a two-day curfew in major Turkish cities to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

According to Press TV, Turkey announced the weekend lockdown late on Friday, but in the brief time before it went into effect many people rushed out to buy food and drink in the country's commercial hub Istanbul, a city of 16 million people, and other cities.

The lockdown decision was taken with good intention and aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus, he said. Lockdown ended at 21:00 GMT on Sunday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not accepted the resignation of Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, the Turkish presidency said on Sunday.

"The resignation of our interior minister has not been accepted by the president, he will continue his duty," the presidency's communications directorate said.

Turkey's death toll from COVID-19 has risen above 1,100, with more than 50,000 confirmed cases since first patient diagnosed a little over a month ago.

ME