Former Erdogan ally resigns from founding group of ruling AK Party - statement

Former Turkish deputy prime minister Ali Babacan said on Monday he was resigning from the founding group of President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party over "deep differences" with the party's direction. Babacan, along with former president Abdullah Gul, plans to launch a rival political party this year, according to people familiar with the matter.

"It has become inevitable to start a new effort for Turkey's present and future. Many of my colleagues and I feel a great and historic responsibility towards this effort," Babacan said in a statement.