Turkish government to lift ban on Twitter within few hours

The Turkish government said on Thursday that it will be lifting the ban soon on social microblogging website, Twitter, in response to a court ruling describing the ban as "unconstitutional" and violating "individual freedoms and freedom of expression." After completing the remaining technical procedures, within a few hours, internet users will be able to reach Twitter inside Turkey, after the site had been halted for the past two weeks, Turkey's Communications and Transportation Ministry said in a statement. The Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), a branch of the Turkish ministry, said it will abide by the constitutional court ruling in lifting the ban. Last month, ICTA banned the social networking site hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to halt all social websites that disseminate leaks and audio recordings allegedly implicating the premier and other ministers of misuse of power.