Erdogan defiant as EU urges Turkey to probe use of police force
- 11 years ago
Strong words to Turkey from the European Union.
The EU urged Turkey on Friday to investigate possible excessive police force in its crackdown on antigovernment protests.
Turkey wants to enter the EU as a full member, but Stefan Fule - who heads the EU agency that oversees enlargement -- told Turkey it must bring those responsible to account.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENLARGEMENT AND EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY STEFAN FULE, SAYING:
"Excessive use of force by police against these demonstrations has no place in such a democracy."
Fule was speaking at a conference attended by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who seemed defiant, saying events in Turkey are being manipulated for political gain.
(SOUNSBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING:
"If anyone in a European country carried out these kind of violent acts and destruction they would face a harsher intervention."
At an Istanbul café, prote
The EU urged Turkey on Friday to investigate possible excessive police force in its crackdown on antigovernment protests.
Turkey wants to enter the EU as a full member, but Stefan Fule - who heads the EU agency that oversees enlargement -- told Turkey it must bring those responsible to account.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENLARGEMENT AND EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY STEFAN FULE, SAYING:
"Excessive use of force by police against these demonstrations has no place in such a democracy."
Fule was speaking at a conference attended by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who seemed defiant, saying events in Turkey are being manipulated for political gain.
(SOUNSBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING:
"If anyone in a European country carried out these kind of violent acts and destruction they would face a harsher intervention."
At an Istanbul café, prote