Turkey keeps media executive in custody on terrorism charge

[December 19, 2014]  ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish court detained a top media executive and three other people on Friday pending trial on accusations of belonging to a terrorist group, in a case which President Tayyip Erdogan has defended as a response to "dirty operations" by his enemies.

The executive, Hidayet Karaca, runs a television station close to the president's ally-turned foe Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric. Erdogan accuses Gulen of seeking to topple him through supporters in the judiciary, police and other institutions.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Dominic Evans)

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