Row over Turkey child care scandal

Secret video shows poor conditions for children in orphanages and mental health hospitals in Turkey and Romania.

These scenes of life in some of Turkey's orphanages and mental hospitals were secretly shot for a British televison documentary.

Sarah Ferguson, former wife of Britain's Prince Andrew, went undercover posing as a possible charitable donor to get in.

The footage shows children being tied to their beds.

Turkey says it's a smear campaign to harm its bid for European Union membership.

Ferguson says she wants to improve conditions.

SOUNDBITE: Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, saying (English):

"Together we can do this but what worries me is there are only so many countries that are going to let us go through their borders because they don't want to be embarrassed."

Her criticism of the poor conditions is being echoed by Turkish campaigners whose own findings were equally unflattering.

A report by the Human Rights in Mental Health Initiative highlights poor hygiene, inadequate medical care and lack of rehabilitation.

It says nearly all institutions strapped patients down to immobilise them, in extreme cases for up to six days.

The campaigners say Ferguson's documentary has boosted their push for action.

SOUNDBITE: Fatma Zengin Dagidir, Human Rights in Mental Health Initiative, saying (Turkish):

"The Ferguson documentary had an explosive effect when it was broadcast. We don't like sensationalism but now I've started to believe in the importance of such things."

The European Union has repeatedly raised concerns over human rights in Turkey as a major obstacle to membership.

Paul Chapman, Reuters