Two cabinet ministers have resigned in the bribery and corruption scandal affecting the AKP government. Following the resignation of Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Interior Minister Muammer Güler has also stepped down.

Interior Minister Muammer Güler said: "On 17 December I asked the Prime Minister for permission to leave my post and today I have put it in writing."

It is reported that Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan did not go to his office, but dictated his letter of resignation from home.

The resignations coincided with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's return from a visit to Pakistan, being announced following a meeting he held with ministers at his Istanbul home. The meeting was attended by Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Interior Minister Muammer Güler, EU Minister Egemen Bağış and Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar.

Çağlayan's son and some close colleagues were arrested as part of the bribery and corruption operations launched on 17 December. It was claimed that Çağlayan had submitted his resignation to PM Erdoğan along with other ministers caught up in the investigation. More resignations are expected to follow.

First reactions from the CHP

The first comment on Çağlayan's resignation came from CHP Group chair Muharrem İnce. In his Twitter account İnce commented: "Not enough, but yes".