Turkey's Erdogan names new communications chief

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan appointed on Thursday a new communications director, Burhanettin Duran, a deputy foreign minister who will take up a role aimed at keeping a tight leash on the mostly pro-government media.

Duran, a deputy at the ministry since last year, replaces Fahrettin Altun, whom Erdogan appointed in 2018 to launch a newly-formed communications directorate employing some 1,500 people in Turkey and abroad.

The directorate has sought to amplify the Turkish government's voice globally and closely monitor domestic media, through efforts to flag what it calls disinformation, mostly in the independent or opposition press and on social media.

Reports show about 90% of Turkey's mainstream media leans pro-government, reinforcing Erdogan's more than two-decade grip on power.

Duran, the new director, focused primarily on Africa in his time at the foreign ministry, taking a role in Turkey's mediation of talks between Ethiopia and Somalia late last year.

The official presidential gazette said Altun would lead Turkey's human rights and equality council on leaving the directorate.

(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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