Erdogan Vows to Rid Turkey's Judiciary of 'Cancer Cells'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday vowed to eradicate "cancer cells" in the judiciary, launching a new attack against the supporters of his rival, U.S.-based imam Fethullah Gulen.

Erdogan accuses Gulen's powerful movement of being behind a sweeping corruption probe that rocked his government in December 2013 while he was prime minister.

Firing a new salvo against Gulen's supporters in the judiciary, Erdogan said: "A gang has attempted to stage a coup against the government with the help of resources provided to them for the security of the country and the interest of justice."

Gulen, an Erdogan ally-turned-foe, has vehemently denied Erdogan's suggestions he instigated the probe.

Thousands of his supporters have held influential jobs in high places in the police and judiciary.

But the Turkish strongman has struck back, sacking scores of judges and prosecutors as well as pushing through laws in a bid to tighten his grip over the judiciary.

In December, the country's top judicial body dismissed four prosecutors who oversaw the corruption investigation.

"In the new Turkey, we will work hand in hand to make sure we can eradicate these cancer cells that have invaded the whole society," he said in a speech at the Turkish Justice Academy in Ankara.

"It is not possible for judges and prosecutors who act upon the order of others instead of law to serve justice," he added, calling the launch of the corruption probe "a catastrophe".

The corruption scandal, which dragged down four of his ministers, posed one of the most serious challenges to Erdogan's 11-year rule as prime minister.

Erdogan, who came out fighting from the crisis and became president last August, labeled the graft probe an attempted "judicial coup".