Turkey's Former Spy Chief Drops Election Bid

Turkey's powerful former intelligence chief announced Monday he is dropping a bid to run for parliament in the wake of criticism from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his decision to resign and seek elected office.

"As of today, I deem it necessary to withdraw my application to run... in the general elections," Fidan said in a statement carried by the state-run Anatolia news agency.

In February, Fidan resigned from the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) to stand as a lawmaker in June elections from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

But Erdogan has repeatedly said he was not happy with Fidan's decision to stand for parliament in the June 7 legislative polls.

"I do not view Hakan Fidan's candidacy positively," the president said last month in comments which stunned Turkish media who had assumed Fidan's departure had been approved by the Turkish strongman ahead of the elections.

Widely seen as one of Turkey's most powerful figures, Fidan served as head of the Turkish secret service since 2010 and has always been regarded as one of Erdogan's closest allies.

It was not immediately clear if Fidan would return to his former post. He only said in the statement that he would continue to carry out every duty with an aim to "serve my country and my nation."