Turkey Probes Social Network Postings

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkey’s deputy prime minister says authorities are investigating people who allegedly insulted state officials or incited riots through social media postings, a sign that the government is intent on meting out punishments for the anti-government protests that swept Turkey in June.

Bekir Bozdag said Thursday the government will submit to Parliament a proposal to further curb the military’s powers, in an apparent effort to reaffirm its democratic credentials that were tarnished by the protests.

The protests were sparked by a heavy-handed police crackdown on peaceful activists on May 31, which then morphed into the biggest anti-government demonstrations in decades

The government has blamed the protests on a foreign-led conspiracy – involving bankers and the media – aimed at harming Turkey, and has vowed to go after them.