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| President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approves new Turkish government formed by ally Binali Yildirim | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approves new Turkish government formed by ally Binali Yildirim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Turkish President has approved a new government after the country's Prime Minister dramatically resigned. | The Turkish President has approved a new government after the country's Prime Minister dramatically resigned. |
| Recep Tayyip Erdogan's trusted ally, Binali Yildirim, announced the new cabinet after a meeting on Tuesday. | Recep Tayyip Erdogan's trusted ally, Binali Yildirim, announced the new cabinet after a meeting on Tuesday. |
| The 60-year-old replaced Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday following a reported falling-out, and is said to be backing controversial constitutional reforms that would expand Mr Erdogan's powers. | |
| The issue was one of several that the President and former Prime Minister were thought to be at odds over, including military operations against Kurdish groups in south-east Turkey. | The issue was one of several that the President and former Prime Minister were thought to be at odds over, including military operations against Kurdish groups in south-east Turkey. |
| “I feel no reproach, anger or resentment against anyone,” Mr Davutoglu said after announcing his resignation. “No one heard or will ever hear a single word from my mouth, from my tongue or my mind against our President.” | |
| Mr Yildirim was elected as leader of the AKP unopposed on 22 May. He has served as transport and communications minister since 2002, with a short interruption in 2015, and is a founding member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). | |
| He was implicated in a corruption scandal in 2013 but denied wrongdoing and has generated controversy by appearing to support gender segregation and overseeing growing government surveillance and censorship. | |
| Many fear that Turkey is moving towards an executive presidency that will concentrate too many powers in Mr Erdogan's hands, in the wake of a crackdown on critics in the media and government. | |
| As the country faces security threats including increased attacks by Kurdish and Isis militants, parliament is in disarray after a government-backed constitutional amendment left 138 politicians vulnerable to prosecution. | |
| The move officially strips immunity from prosecution but has been condemned as a move to expel opposition members, following calls from Mr Erdogan for pro-Kurdish MPs to face terrorism charges. | |
| Negotiations also continue over Turkey's possible ascension to the European Union after the controversial refugee deal was agreed with a package of concessions on visa-free travel. |