ANKARA, Turkey -- A Turkish high court has suspended an attempt by the government to funnel all corruption investigations through top police and judicial officials.

Critics have accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of trying to stifle a corruption investigation targeting some of his allies by dismissing police chiefs and changing the rules on how the probes are conducted.

The High Administrative Court said Friday it was suspending the change to regulation pending more deliberations on the issue, a week after Turkey's bar association petitioned the court for its cancellation.

Erdogan reshuffled his government this week after three ministers, whose sons were detained as part the probe, resigned. He says the probe is part of a wider conspiracy aimed at bringing his government down.