Turkish prosecutors on Friday launched an investigation into claims by pro-government media that the top foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had ordered the assassination of his daughter.

Turkish prosecutors on Friday launched an investigation into claims by pro-government media that the top foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had ordered the assassination of his daughter.

Pro-government dailies Star, Aksam and Gunes alleged on their front pages on Friday that the plot to assassinate 29-year-old Sumeyye Erdogan had been ordered by US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom the president accuses of seeking to overthrow him.

Gulen's lawyer as well as an opposition lawmaker accused in the plot strongly denied the allegations and called them a smear campaign.

The allegations were based on alleged Twitter messages between Umut Oran, a lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People's Party, and Fuat Avni, a mysterious government whistleblower.

The chief prosecutor's office in Ankara deemed the reports as a "tip-off" and launched an investigation.