Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey, in a purge of opponents of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, has dismissed its defense procurement chief.

Officials said Erdogan ordered the firing of Defense Industry Undersecretary Murad Bayar. They said Bayar was dismissed in a decision recorded on March 27.

Turkey’s Official Gazette confirmed the removal of Bayar, who served about 10 years in the post. Under Bayar, the undersecretariat, known by its Turkish acronym SSM, was given nearly exclusive control over procurement for Turkey’s military and security forces.

The decision to fire Bayar was signed by Erdogan as well as President Abdullah Gul and Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz. No reason was given.

No successor was named for Bayar, long regarded as close to the prime minister.

The dismissal came amid the release of a recording of a meeting of the Turkish leadership that discussed the prospect of launching a war against neighboring Syria.

“Wiretapping our prime minister, ministers and top officials is an open declaration of war against the Turkish republic,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said. “Taking the necessary precautions is the state’s duty.”

Under Bayar, Turkey demanded significant offsets for major foreign
arms sales, including the selection of China’s ballistic missile defense
system. They included technology transfer and co-production, requirements
that often ruled out U.S. companies.

Officials said Bayar was offered to serve as an adviser to Gul. They did not say whether the undersecretary accepted.

  Abdullah Gul, Ismet Yilmaz, Murad Bayar, Recep Erdogan, Turkey’s Erdogan fires longtime defense chief without explanation