The Turkish government has dismissed 350 police officers in the capital Ankara in connection with an anti-corruption operation, reports say.

The sackings took place overnight, with 250 people - mostly from outside the city - appointed to replace them.

Hundreds of police have been dismissed or reassigned across the country since last month's corruption investigation.

The prime minister has accused the police and judiciary of orchestrating a probe against his government.

Over the weekend Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the graft operation of the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office was a coup attempt by the judiciary in the country.

He claims he is the victim of a conspiracy that is threatening Turkey's "future and stability" and has launched a harsh attack on the magistrates over the inquiry into bribery and corruption within the government.

Speaking at a luncheon to 45 prominent members of the Turkish media, pro-government intellectuals, and writers at the government residence Dolmabahce in Istanbul, Erdogan said: "In this process, there has been in Turkey an attempt to seize the sovereignty from the people and transfer it to the judiciary."

Erdogan expressed confidence that Turkey would overcome its current difficulties. He pointed to municipal elections set for March as a test for the regime in upcoming presidential elections in August.

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