Turkey in protest over treatment of bodyguards

Turkey summoned the US ambassador yesterday to protest what it called “aggressive and unprofessional actions” by American security personnel against Turkish bodyguards during a violent incident last week in Washington.

The US ambassador told Turkey’s government its guards had violated US laws, a senior American official said.

Turkey’s action appeared to represent retaliation for the forceful US criticism of the Turkish guards’ behaviour in the American capital, where they accompanied President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his visit. The US summoned Turkey’s ambassador last week after the Turkish security officers were seen hitting and kicking protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence. One video shared on social media even showed Erdogan watching the melee. Turkey did not specify the actions by US security officials it deemed inappropriate. Video from the scene had showed police struggling to protect protesters.