ISTANBUL – Turkey’s army may come under the authority of the defenceministry. President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying by privatebroadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday.

Erdogan on Monday appointed former Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar as defenceminister. He made the comment to reporters traveling his plane to a Natosummit in Brussels, CNN Turk said.

On June 25, Erdogan emerged victorious from his biggest electoral challengein a decade and a half, giving him the sweeping, executive powers he haslong sought and extending his grip on the nation of 81 million until atleast 2023.

The most popular and divisive leader in modern Turkish history, Erdoganpledged there would be no retreat from his drive to transform Turkey, adeeply polarised nation that is both a Nato member and, at least nominally,a candidate to join the European Union.