Advertisement

Erdogan regime replaces interior minister Ala in Turkish cabinet shuffle

By Doug G. Ware
Turkish citizens celebrate in Taksim square in Istanbul on July 16 during a demonstration in support of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who battled to regain control over the country after a failed military coup attempt. Wednesday, Erdogan's regime installed a new interior minister as part of a minor cabinet shuffle. File Photo by Hanna Noori/ UPI
Turkish citizens celebrate in Taksim square in Istanbul on July 16 during a demonstration in support of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who battled to regain control over the country after a failed military coup attempt. Wednesday, Erdogan's regime installed a new interior minister as part of a minor cabinet shuffle. File Photo by Hanna Noori/ UPI | License Photo

ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala resigned from his post on Wednesday after serving in the role for less than a year, in a minor cabinet reshuffling by President Recep Erdogan.

Ankara's government announced the move Wednesday and named Labor Minister Süleyman Soylu as his replacement.

Advertisement

Ala was named interior minister in December -- replacing the embattled Muammer Güler, who departed following a corruption scandal -- but his tenure in the position was marred by certain troubles.

RELATED Obama to meet with Putin, Turkey's Erdogan on sidelines of G20 summit next week

He spent much of his time trying to remove members of the Gülenist Terror Group from Turkish government offices and police departments.

Ala's removal comes as Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim attempt to clean up the cabinet in the wake of the attempted July 15 military coup.

Yildirim said Mehmet Muezzinoglu has replaced Süleyman Soylu as labor and social security minister.

Latest Headlines