Turkey probes Istanbul municipality staff over alleged militant ties

Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu speaks during a news conference at the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey December 27, 2021. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey has launched an investigation into hundreds of staff at the opposition-run Istanbul municipality accused of links to militant groups, drawing fierce criticism from the city's mayor on Monday over the handling of the probe.

Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and is seen as a potential challenger to President Tayyip Erdogan.