The episode is the latest twist in a long-running conflict between Erdogan and US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen.

Police raided the offices of Zaman, which is affiliated with Gulen, late on Friday after a court approved a request by a prosecutor to appoint a state administrator to the daily. The prosecutor is investigating whether funds have been diverted to Gulen.

Sunday's front page included a story about Erdogan's planned reception to mark International Women's Day and his visit to the site of a bridge being built across Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait.

There was no mention of protests by Gulen's supporters on Friday and Saturday when police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse large crowds gathered outside of the newspaper.

Rights groups and European officials criticized the seizure, saying it infringed on press freedom in the EU candidate country.