MAY’S £100m TURKEY TROT

Flying visit seals major jet deal

THERESA May clinched a £100million defence deal with Turkey yesterday.

The Prime Minister met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a brief visit to discuss post-Brexit trade deals.

She unveiled a new multi-million pound deal to continue building fighter jets in Turkey.

Mrs May also addressed human rights issues in the country after claims of abuse following the failed military coup in 2016.

She told President Erdogan, inset, that it was “important” to uphold human rights values.

Charities have called for a “probing discussion” about allegations of excessive force and mistreat- JOE HINTON A BENGAL tiger caused panic after escaping from a circus and prowling the streets of Sicily yesterday.

People locked themselves inside their homes as the big cat roamed around the Monreale district of Palermo. Armed police eventually managed to snare the predator, named Oscar, after he lay down outside a kitchen shop.

He was later sent back to the circus. ment of detainees following last summer’s uprising.

Speaking at the presidential palace in Ankara, Mrs May said: “I’m proud the UK stood with you on July 15 last year in defence of your democracy.

“Now it’s important that Turkey sustains that democracy by maintaining the rule of law and upholding its international human rights obligations, as the government has undertaken to do.”

During the one-day visit, the PM visited the tomb of Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern-day Turkey, and laid a wreath. She also signed the visitors’ book, where the Premier called for “peace in the world”. Her note read: “It is a great honour to visit this special place of remembrance to the founding father of modern Turkey. “Let us together renew our efforts to fulfil Atatürk’s vision of peace at home and peace in the world.” The trip came a day after Mrs May met President Trump at the White House. During their meeting both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Nato.