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It looks like election campaigning is taking a toll on the Turkish PM, with ‘cracks’ beginning to show in his voice. (Reuters)
By Staff writer Al Arabiya News Saturday 29 March 2014
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He may not look noticeably tired during his final election campaign push this week, but “cracks” are beginning to show during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recent speeches.

On Friday, Turkish media picked up on Erdogan’s voice beginning to give out on him in two speeches earlier this week, the latest one in the city of Van on Thursday ahead of the local elections on March 30.

At some points during the speech, his voice became so high-pitched and scratchy that it was likened to a rooster’s crow. Judge his chords for yourself in a compilation of his latest speeches captured by Turkey's Hurriyet Daily here.

Just before he launched his screechy address, Erdogan apologized for the quality of his voice.

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“Additional rallies planned for today [Friday] have been cancelled so that the prime minister can give his vocal chords some rest. Probably a good call,” The Huffington Post reported on Friday, also noting the Turkish premier is no stranger to odd speeches.

“[He] baffled audiences with a giant hologram version of himself in an address last January, although that was at least delivered in his usual baritone cadence,” the report added.

Erdogan has recently been under fire after Twitter was blocked in Turkey last week following his threat to “wipe out” the social network - one of several highlighting corruption allegations in his inner circle.

In power since 2003, Erdogan has been under mounting pressure after audio recordings allegedly show his involvement in corruption, and others portraying him interfering in business deals, court cases and media coverage.

Erdogan's government was been rocked by a vast corruption probe launched in December which saw dozens of people rounded up including the premier's close business and political allies.