Fergie accused of "smudge" campaign

The Duchess of York has been accused of attempting to smear Turkey's image in an undercover probe of the country's state-run orphanages.

The Turkish minister responsible for women and family, Nimet Cubukcu, claimed that the ITV1 Tonight investigation was deliberately scheduled to coincide with a report on the country's bid for European Union membership.

"It is obvious that in this instance she is trying to leave Turkey in the midst of a smudge campaign," Cubukcu told The Press Association.

A spokeswoman for Sarah Ferguson said The Duchess is apolitical and that the documentary was "all about the welfare of children".

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie accompanied their mother for the probe, during which they reportedly discovered children tied to their beds.

Cubukcu said the Turkish government was "probing all kinds of human rights abuses and misuse of authority" in centres visited during the investigation.