Turkey facing 'mini-coup bid', says deputy PM Ali Babacan

PM Recep Tayip Erdogan leacder of a corrupt government

Turkey's government has said it is fending off a "mini-coup attempt" by elements in the police and judiciary who serve the interests of foreign and domestic forces bent on humbling the country.

Ali Babacan, deputy prime minister with charge of the economy, says the ruling AK Party (AKP) had in the past survived military coup plots and attempts in the courts to outlaw it.

It would not now yield to a corruption investigation that he said targeted the government and was already damaging the national economy.

"These latest formations in the judiciary and the police, we can't call it a coup, but a mini-coup attempt. This is what interests foreign investors," Babacan told CNBC-e in an interview aired by the broadcaster on Tuesday, echoing suggestions by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, of a foreign interest in the crisis.

"Maybe the clearest indicator of this was the fall in share prices."

The market value of Turkish listed companies had fallen $49bn by Monday's market close, he said.

"We will not easily allow someone to come and take it away. However many efforts there were until now trying to shake political stability, we overcame them all."

As Babacan was speaking, news emerged of a further resignation from the AKP. A total of seven MPs have resigned from the AKP since the end of November, five since the December 17 police raids.

Read more: Turkey facing 'mini-coup bid', says deputy PM - Europe - Al Jazeera English