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| Turkey referendum: Dutch expel Erdogan's minister amid protests | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dutch riot police have used water cannons and horses to disperse protesters outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, as the city expelled a Turkish minister. | |
| More than 1,000 people had gathered outside the building as the diplomatic row between the two nations escalated. | |
| Protesters were reportedly throwing bottles and mobbing police cars. | Protesters were reportedly throwing bottles and mobbing police cars. |
| Turkey's family minister was denied access to the consulate, and later escorted to the German border. | |
| Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya had arrived by road on Saturday ahead of a rally planned to help harness the votes of Turks living in the Netherlands. | |
| They will be voting in a referendum next month on whether to expand Mr Erdogan's powers. | They will be voting in a referendum next month on whether to expand Mr Erdogan's powers. |
| But when she arrived, Dutch authorities refused to allow her entry to the consulate, sparking a stream of angry tweets. | But when she arrived, Dutch authorities refused to allow her entry to the consulate, sparking a stream of angry tweets. |
| Ms Kaya was then escorted by police to the German border, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed early on Sunday morning. | Ms Kaya was then escorted by police to the German border, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed early on Sunday morning. |
| In a Facebook post, Mr Rutte said attempts to find a "reasonable solution" to the countries' differences had proved "impossible", while dismissing Ms Kaya's arrival in Rotterdam as "irresponsible". | In a Facebook post, Mr Rutte said attempts to find a "reasonable solution" to the countries' differences had proved "impossible", while dismissing Ms Kaya's arrival in Rotterdam as "irresponsible". |
| What is the row about? | What is the row about? |
| Turkey is holding a referendum on 16 April on whether to turn from a parliamentary to a presidential republic, more akin to the United States. | Turkey is holding a referendum on 16 April on whether to turn from a parliamentary to a presidential republic, more akin to the United States. |
| If successful, it would give sweeping new powers to the president, allowing them to appoint ministers, prepare the budget, choose the majority of senior judges and enact certain laws by decree. | If successful, it would give sweeping new powers to the president, allowing them to appoint ministers, prepare the budget, choose the majority of senior judges and enact certain laws by decree. |
| What's more, the president alone would be able to announce a state of emergency and dismiss parliament. | What's more, the president alone would be able to announce a state of emergency and dismiss parliament. |
| In order to get it passed, Mr Erdogan needs to get the votes of both those citizens living in, and out, of Turkey. | In order to get it passed, Mr Erdogan needs to get the votes of both those citizens living in, and out, of Turkey. |
| There are 5.5 million Turks living outside the country, with 1.4 million eligible voters in Germany alone - and the Yes campaign are keen to get them on side. | There are 5.5 million Turks living outside the country, with 1.4 million eligible voters in Germany alone - and the Yes campaign are keen to get them on side. |
| So a number of rallies have been planned for countries where large numbers of voters currently live, including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. | So a number of rallies have been planned for countries where large numbers of voters currently live, including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. |
| However, Mr Erdogan's supporters have found themselves blocked from holding these rallies. | However, Mr Erdogan's supporters have found themselves blocked from holding these rallies. |
| Why are countries trying to prevent the rallies? | Why are countries trying to prevent the rallies? |
| Many of the countries have cited security concerns as the official reason the rallies have been banned or moved. | Many of the countries have cited security concerns as the official reason the rallies have been banned or moved. |
| Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said Mr Erdogan was not welcome to hold rallies as this could increase friction and hinder integration. | Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said Mr Erdogan was not welcome to hold rallies as this could increase friction and hinder integration. |
| Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands asked Turkey to desist as they feared "compromised public order and security". | Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands asked Turkey to desist as they feared "compromised public order and security". |
| However, many European nations have also expressed deep disquiet about Turkey's response to the July coup attempt and the country's perceived slide towards authoritarianism under President Erdogan. | However, many European nations have also expressed deep disquiet about Turkey's response to the July coup attempt and the country's perceived slide towards authoritarianism under President Erdogan. |
| Germany in particular has been critical of the mass arrests and purges that followed - with nearly 100,000 civil servants removed from their posts. | Germany in particular has been critical of the mass arrests and purges that followed - with nearly 100,000 civil servants removed from their posts. |
| What has Turkey's response been? | What has Turkey's response been? |
| Mr Erdogan has lashed out at Germany and the Netherlands, denouncing the Dutch government as "Nazi remnants and fascists", while accusing Germany of "Nazi practices". | Mr Erdogan has lashed out at Germany and the Netherlands, denouncing the Dutch government as "Nazi remnants and fascists", while accusing Germany of "Nazi practices". |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned the Nazi jibe as "unacceptable", while Mr Rutte dismissed it as a "crazy remark". | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned the Nazi jibe as "unacceptable", while Mr Rutte dismissed it as a "crazy remark". |
| But Mr Erdogan escalated the rhetoric after the Netherlands banned his foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu from entering the country by plane by threatening to block Dutch flights. | But Mr Erdogan escalated the rhetoric after the Netherlands banned his foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu from entering the country by plane by threatening to block Dutch flights. |
| He said: "Ban our foreign minister from flying however much you like, but from now on, let's see how your flights will land in Turkey." | He said: "Ban our foreign minister from flying however much you like, but from now on, let's see how your flights will land in Turkey." |
| Mr Cavusoglu also warned Turkey would impose heavy sanctions if his visit was blocked. | Mr Cavusoglu also warned Turkey would impose heavy sanctions if his visit was blocked. |
| Ms Kaya's arrival, by road, was seen as a further provocation by Turkey on the part of the Dutch - although Mr Rutte says his government remains "in favour" of speaking with Mr Erdogan and his colleagues to find a resolution. | Ms Kaya's arrival, by road, was seen as a further provocation by Turkey on the part of the Dutch - although Mr Rutte says his government remains "in favour" of speaking with Mr Erdogan and his colleagues to find a resolution. |