US urges Turkey to restore access to Twitter

WASHINGTON -- The United States is urging Turkey to restore access to Twitter.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says blocking the social media site cuts the flow of information and runs contrary to the principles of open governance.

Carney says the U.S. has conveyed its "serious concern" to the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH'-jehp TY'-ihp UR'-doh-wahn).

Turkey restricted Twitter access after Erdogan threatened to "root out" the network. Wiretapped recordings leaked on Twitter have damaged the government's reputation before local elections this month. The recordings include one in which Erdogan allegedly tells his son to dispose of large sums of money from a residence amid a police graft probe.

People in Turkey who tried to use Twitter early Friday got a notice citing court orders for its apparent closure.