ISTANBUL - The death toll in Turkey from drinking counterfeit liquor has risen to 19 after three more people died in hospital, health authorities said Sunday.
"The death toll in Istanbul is currently 18 and another person has died" in the northwestern province of Bursa, a spokesman for the Istanbul health department told AFP.
Police were also investigating two deaths which they suspect might have been induced by bootleg raki, Turkey's aniseed-based national drink.
Nineteen other people were still in hospital after having drunk the counterfeit booze made from deadly methyl alchohol, he said.
The deaths have sparked panic in Istanbul drinking establishments, with many bar owners blaming higher taxes on alcoholic beverages by a government with Islamist roots for the emergence of illegal liquor factories.
The government has brushed aside the criticism and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan announced Friday that they had no plans to pull down taxes.
Health officials have said that the bootleg raki contained up to 200 times more than the permitted amount of methyl alcohol, which can kill if drunk in large amounts.
Police have arrested at least 15 people and seized thousands of bottles in several operations across the country.
03/06/2005 12:57 GMT