Arinc refutes allegations against Anadolu Agency

Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc on Wednesday dismissed allegationsagainst Anadolu Agency for its local election coverage.Speaking to the agency, Arinc said "Our national news agency provided the results directly from the polling stations for the first time in its history. When the resultscame out, we saw how accurate these results were."Arinc rejected derogatory remarks on AA that came from the main opposition party(CHP) leader Kilicdaroglu and CHP Ankara Mayoral Candidate Mansur Yavas."This is all just speculation and an effort to undermine our agency and the electionresults," he added.The Deputy Prime Minister described the allegations as 'ridiculous'"AA is not an ordinary agency. Our great leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's agency hasbecome internationally prominent over the past few years. Why would AA manipulateanything in favour of a party? These are all part of a smear campaign we stronglyreject," he said.Arinc also defended the actions of AA Director General, Kemal Ozturk; "I know thatthe director general was on duty at the AA headquarters for twenty hours on theelection day and directed the agency's coverage. I personally find him verysuccessful and I would like to congratulate the AA for its election coverage .