The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected the resignation submitted by Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.

In a written statement about his resignation, Soylu said the scenes created after the lockdown announcement did not fit into the “perfectly managed process” by the Government against the coronavirus.

“The responsibility for the implementation of the decision for the weekend belongs to me in all aspects. I ask for forgiveness from my dear nation, which I have never wanted to harm, and my President to whom I will be loyal till the end of my life”, - wrote Suleyman Soylu.

After the announcement of the curfew, people rushed out to markets to stock up on goods before the start of the lockdown leading to close contact between people.