Hurriyet daily newspaper replaced its editor-in-chief on Wednesday, a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted the Turkish publication over a headline that implied there was unease within the military's top brass.

The mass circulation newspaper has been under government pressure for years for its critical coverage of the ruling Islamic-conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Erdogan, though it has moved to tone this down.

Watchdog groups like Reporters Without Border say media freedoms in Turkey are in sharp decline. More than 140 journalists are in jail, including German reporter Deniz Yucel.

The article which earned Erdogan's anger was entitled "the headquarters is not at ease," and focused on concerns towards the military among certain political spheres, including that the army chief and government were too close.

For the most part, the army sources quoted tried to quell the allegations.

Journalist Ismail Saymaz, who writes for Hurriyet, published photos on his Twitter feed of the handover from Sedat Ergin to Fikret Bila, the outlet's new chief.

While Hurriyet itself did not publish a statement, other Turkish media outlets, including Cumhuriyet, reported the change at the top. A staff member also confirmed the information to dpa.

On Tuesday, Erdogan used a press conference to lambast Hurriyet's report on the military, saying it was "rude" and unforgivable. He indicated legal measures could follow.

Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar sat next to Erdogan, wearing a suit and not his military uniform.

Turkey saw a failed putsch attempt by a faction in the military last year and the institution has a long history of interference in politics, including coups.