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Turkish president vows to fight US arrest warrants | Turkish president vows to fight US arrest warrants |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will fight US arrest warrants for his security team over a brawl last month in Washington. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will fight US arrest warrants for his security team over a brawl last month in Washington. |
He said he would politically challenge a dozen arrest warrants issued by local police, CNN Turk quoted him as saying. | He said he would politically challenge a dozen arrest warrants issued by local police, CNN Turk quoted him as saying. |
Violence erupted between protesters and the president's security personnel outside the Turkish ambassador's residence during Mr Erdogan's visit. | Violence erupted between protesters and the president's security personnel outside the Turkish ambassador's residence during Mr Erdogan's visit. |
Police have since arrested two Turkish nationals living in the US. | Police have since arrested two Turkish nationals living in the US. |
Eyup Yildirim of New Jersey and Sinan Narin of Virginia were arrested on assault charges on Wednesday, according to police. | Eyup Yildirim of New Jersey and Sinan Narin of Virginia were arrested on assault charges on Wednesday, according to police. |
A day later, District Police Chief Peter Newsham announced arrest warrants for 12 Turkish security personnel. | |
"We all saw the violence that was perpetrated against the protesters," Chief Newsham said. "We're not going to tolerate this." | "We all saw the violence that was perpetrated against the protesters," Chief Newsham said. "We're not going to tolerate this." |
Two Toronto men, Ahmet Dereci and Mahmut Sami Ellialti, are also wanted on assault charges. | |
Mr Dereci and Mr Ellialti, who are private citizens, had travelled from Canada to Washington to show support for Mr Erdogan. | |
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the charges "send a clear message that the United States does not tolerate individuals who use intimidation and violence to stifle freedom of speech and legitimate political expression". | Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the charges "send a clear message that the United States does not tolerate individuals who use intimidation and violence to stifle freedom of speech and legitimate political expression". |
Mr Erdogan's security personnel returned to Turkey with him so it is unclear if they will face arrest. | Mr Erdogan's security personnel returned to Turkey with him so it is unclear if they will face arrest. |
CNN Turk gave no further details of Mr Erdogan's response. | CNN Turk gave no further details of Mr Erdogan's response. |
The pro-Turkish government newspaper Daily Sabah quoted the president as saying: "We will do everything, politically, diplomatically, to resolve it." | The pro-Turkish government newspaper Daily Sabah quoted the president as saying: "We will do everything, politically, diplomatically, to resolve it." |
President Erdogan was in a car parked nearby and witnessed the May incident. | President Erdogan was in a car parked nearby and witnessed the May incident. |
Mr Yildirim and Mr Narin were both identified as supporters of Mr Erdogan in a detailed New York Times report into the violence. | Mr Yildirim and Mr Narin were both identified as supporters of Mr Erdogan in a detailed New York Times report into the violence. |
The newspaper said the men had travelled to Washington to support the Turkish president, but it was unclear if they had a formal connection to his security detail. | The newspaper said the men had travelled to Washington to support the Turkish president, but it was unclear if they had a formal connection to his security detail. |
Video footage showed men in suits charging past police to kick and punch protesters. Two other men have previously been charged. | Video footage showed men in suits charging past police to kick and punch protesters. Two other men have previously been charged. |
Eleven people were hurt in the fracas, nine of whom needed hospital treatment. | Eleven people were hurt in the fracas, nine of whom needed hospital treatment. |
The US complained to Turkey about the incident and confirmed that Turkish security guards were involved. | The US complained to Turkey about the incident and confirmed that Turkish security guards were involved. |
However, the Turkish Embassy said protesters had provoked Turkish-Americans who were there to greet the president, and they in turn responded in self-defence. | However, the Turkish Embassy said protesters had provoked Turkish-Americans who were there to greet the president, and they in turn responded in self-defence. |
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