PM Erdoğan labels CNN reporter kicked and detained during Gezi anniversary as ‘agent’

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan toughened his rhetoric against foreign media coverage of the demonstrations in Turkey, blasting CNN International’s correspondent Ivan Watson, who was detained on air during Gezi anniversary protests May 31, for being an “agent.”

“CNN International made an eight-hour broadcast during last year’s Gezi events. Why? To stir trouble in my country. This year, they have been caught red-handed,” said Erdoğan during his weekly address to his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) lawmakers in Parliament June 3.

“Those don’t have anything to do with independent and impartial media. They have been given tasks. They are agents,” he said. Watson was kicked by police while being detained.

Despite photographs of beaten protesters triggering huge anger, Erdoğan once again praised the police’s attitude during the crackdown on the Gezi anniversary, while slamming big capital holders for giving "financial aid" to protesters and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) for “logistical” support.

“They have been unable to activate their obscure scenarios in spite of calls from the CHP and marginal terrorist organizations. Thanks to our police’s erect stand, [protesters] went as they came. During the previous Gezi, they had capital support. But they remained naked without it. Those who called for rebellion from luxurious Istanbul cafés were left empty-handed on Saturday,” Erdoğan said.

He described once again the protest as a coup attempt, while slamming “hate speech” against the government on critical news outlets and social media.

“This violence and vandalism was presented to...