Story highlights "This is a political coup and ethnic cleansing," Kurdish lawmaker saysThe 28 mayors are alleged to have ties to one of two groups Turkey deems terrorist(CNN) Turkey's government replaced 28 mayors, whom the Interior Ministry accuses of terrorist ties, with trustees, sparking demonstrations and international concern. The mayors are the latest to find themselves targeted in President Recep Erdogan's post-coup state of emergency, enacted in July. According to the 10-day-old Decree Law No. 674, the government is allowed to replace mayors and city council members who "have been actively engaged in acts of terrorism and openly providing support to terrorism," an Interior Ministry statement said. Twelve of the mayors have been arrested, its statement said.

Source: CNN September 11, 2016 19:30 UTC