Erdogan says lira crash 'political plot' against Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said the crash of the Turkish lira, sparked by a bitter dispute with the United States, was a "political plot" against Turkey and warned Ankara would now seek new markets and partners. The dispute between the two NATO allies -- which reached new intensity over the detention of an American pastor in Turkey -- has hammered the lira and also raised questions over the future partnership between Washington and Ankara. The already embattled Turkish lira tumbled some 16 percent to new record lows against the dollar on Friday as US President Donald Trump said he had doubled steel and aluminium tariffs on Turkey.