Iraqis protest Turkish interference
- 12 years ago
Hundreds of Iraqis march toward the Turkish consulate in the southern city of Basra.
Angry over what they perceive as interference in their affairs, protesters trample Turkey's flag.
The demonstrations come in response to tension following Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's criticism of his Iraqi counterpart.
The Turkish leader accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of fanning sectarian tensions after he ordered the arrest of Iraq's Sunni vice president in December over allegations he ran death squads.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HUSSEIN JASSIM, A PROTESTER, SAYING:
"The Iraqi people can't endure the Turkish insolence and the interference of the criminal Erdogan in Iraq's affair, insulting Iraq's top figures and interfering in its internal affairs and working to create a sectarian strife among Iraqi people."
Earlier in the week, Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador to complain about Ankara's diplomats in Basra and Mosul, though no official reason was given.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters
Angry over what they perceive as interference in their affairs, protesters trample Turkey's flag.
The demonstrations come in response to tension following Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's criticism of his Iraqi counterpart.
The Turkish leader accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of fanning sectarian tensions after he ordered the arrest of Iraq's Sunni vice president in December over allegations he ran death squads.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HUSSEIN JASSIM, A PROTESTER, SAYING:
"The Iraqi people can't endure the Turkish insolence and the interference of the criminal Erdogan in Iraq's affair, insulting Iraq's top figures and interfering in its internal affairs and working to create a sectarian strife among Iraqi people."
Earlier in the week, Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador to complain about Ankara's diplomats in Basra and Mosul, though no official reason was given.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters