Turkey's fight against coronavirus fails to heal divisions, opponents say

FILE PHOTO: A worker in a protective suit sprays disinfectant at Grand Bazaar, known as the Covered Bazaar, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Istanbul, Turkey, March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan has evoked Turkey's war of independence in calls for unity against the coronavirus, but opposition parties say their exclusion from fund-raising efforts and the detention of government critics is instead fuelling division.

The government's initial response to the outbreak appeared to have public support. A survey by pollster Metropoll on Wednesday showed a strong rise in Erdogan's approval rating to 55.8% in March, when the first cases emerged in Turkey.