Hundreds of Islamists gather in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul Friday to condemn a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
Some hold signs bearing images of Turkish members of the Taliban who had been killed.
They condemn the United States.
SOUNDBITE: Protester Murat Ayas, saying (Turkish):
"The U.S. is rising through imperialism and exploitation. We are telling the U.S. that our hatred is due to its policies. We are calling on the U.S. to return to its continent."
The protests come as Biden is urging Turkey to pass new sanctions against Iran, increasing pressure on Washington's Middle East ally to join a tightening web of sanctions aimed at forcing Tehran to stop work on its nuclear program.
Turkey, a Muslim NATO member that aspires to join the European Union, has deepened economic and financial ties with its neighbor Iran in recent years, despite Western efforts to put the squeeze on the Islamic Republic.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
Some hold signs bearing images of Turkish members of the Taliban who had been killed.
They condemn the United States.
SOUNDBITE: Protester Murat Ayas, saying (Turkish):
"The U.S. is rising through imperialism and exploitation. We are telling the U.S. that our hatred is due to its policies. We are calling on the U.S. to return to its continent."
The protests come as Biden is urging Turkey to pass new sanctions against Iran, increasing pressure on Washington's Middle East ally to join a tightening web of sanctions aimed at forcing Tehran to stop work on its nuclear program.
Turkey, a Muslim NATO member that aspires to join the European Union, has deepened economic and financial ties with its neighbor Iran in recent years, despite Western efforts to put the squeeze on the Islamic Republic.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
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