(Beirut Daily Star) Turkey banned YouTube on Thursday after the video-sharing website was used to spread damaging leaked audio files from a state security meeting that discussed possible military action in Syria.
The recordings purport to show senior Turkish government, military and spy officials discussing plans to stage an armed clash in Syria or a missile attack that would serve as a pretext for a military response.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan — already ensnared in a corruption scandal and hit by a series of street protests ahead of crucial local elections on Sunday — angrily lashed out at his political opponents for leaking the recording.
