TURKISH officials have accused Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, of smearing Turkey's image on a British television program about state orphanages in Turkey ahead of a European Union membership report.

Ferguson, ex-wife of the Queen's second son, went under cover with reporters for ITN to visit state-run orphanages in Ankara and Istanbul and expose conditions there.

"It is obvious that Sarah Ferguson is ill-intentioned and is trying to launch a smearing campaign against Turkey by opposing Turkey's EU membership," Nimet Cubukcu, a minister in charge of women and family affairs, said.

"It is saddening that Sarah Ferguson made video shots with an orientalist point of view which she is not permitted to make in her own country and tried to cause indignation in Turkey," Cubukcu said.

The European Commission will publish on Wednesday a report on countries wanting to join the 27-member bloc. Turkey, a large Muslim country, began membership negotiations in October 2005.

The EU has repeatedly criticised Turkey for its human rights record and has urged the government to speed up reforms.

"This is a valid area of public interest at a time when the UK government is endorsing the accession of Turkey into the EU, a process which is conditional in part on Turkey improving its human rights record with children," an ITV spokesperson said.

A spokeswoman said on behalf of the Duchess, "She is apolitical; therefore she has no political motivations. This is all about the welfare of children."