ISTANBUL // Turkish authorities were moving to block access to YouTube on Thursday following similar action against Twitter, the country’s state-run news agency said.
The ban comes after an alleged audio recording of a meeting between the Turkey’s foreign minister, intelligence chief and top military and foreign ministry officials was leaked on YouTube. The four are allegedly heard discussing a military intervention in Syria.
While state-run Anadolu news service said the national telecommunications authorities had instituted the block, the website was still accessible following the announcement Thursday.
Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday the posting on YouTube of a recording purportedly of top officials discussing possible military operations in Syria was “villainous”.
“They even leaked a national security meeting,” Mr Erdogan said in Diyarbakir.
Mr Erdogan’s earlier crackdown on Twitter came after links to other wiretapped recordings suggesting government corruption were spread on the microblogging site.
Also on Thursday, a television station linked to an opponent of Mr Erdogan said authorities had withdrawn its licence to broadcast nationally, just days before crucial local elections.
KanalTurk television is aligned with Fethullah Gulen, a critic of the Erdogan government.
* Associated Press with additional reporting by Reuters
