Turkish Airlines Denies Arms Shipment to Unknown Groups in Nigeria

In a tape posted on YouTube on Tuesday, Mehmet Karatas, an airline executive, allegedly tells Mustafa Varank, an advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that he feels guilty over Turkish Airlines' arms shipments to Nigeria.

In response Turkey's national flag carrier denied the allegations on Wednesday of arms shipments to any unknown groups in Nigeria.

"Turkish Airlines, in accordance with company policy, does not ship arms to countries ... where there is a power vacuum or conflict," the airline said in a statement sent to AFP.

"There have been no arms shipments from Turkey ... to (Nigeria)," it added.

In the tape which has since been removed Karatas is allegedly heard saying "I do not know whether these (weapons) will kill Muslims or Christians. I feel sinful," Karatas is allegedly heard saying.

The Turkish prime minister dismissed most of the tapes as "vile" fakes put together by his political opponents.