Turkey president slams US arrest warrants for security aides over DC brawl

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned arrest warrants issued by US authorities for his security staff accused of assaulting protesters during a street brawl in Washington last month.

During a Thursday speech at a Ramadan dinner feast in Ankara, Erdogan said the US has no right to arrest his guards, who he said were protecting him from "terrorists,” and accused the US police of having allowed the "terrorists" to protest "50 meters from me" during his US visit.

"Why would I bring my guards with me to the United States, if not to protect me?" he said, noting that the US police "did nothing."

Erdogan’s remarks came a few hours after the US authorities announced that arrest warrants had been issued for 12 members of the Turkish president's security entourage.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also slammed the arrest warrants for lacking legal basis and "invited" the US ambassador for discussions on the issue.

"This decision taken by US authorities is wrong, biased and lacks legal basis," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The brawl in front of the Turkish ambassador's residence was caused by the failure of local security authorities to take necessary measures... Turkish citizens cannot be held responsible for the incident that took place,” it added.

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The US State Department, however, said that Erdogan's security detail had no justification to attack the protesters, adding that the charges against the 12, along with six other Turkish-Americans and Turkish-Canadians who joined the melee, "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."

The crackdown erupted on May 17, when protesters, mainly Kurds and Armenians, gathered outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence, where Erdogan was staying after meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House.

The peaceful protests turned into violent clashes when a group of Erdogan’s supporters taunted the first group and attacked them. The tension escalated after Erdogan’s guards and other Turkish security personnel interfered and violently beat the protesters.

DC police said at least 11 people were injured and two arrests were made during the melee. Two US Secret Service agents were also assaulted in the brawl.

Turkey said the protesters were linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the demonstration was “unpermitted” and “provocative.”

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