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Turkish anger at 'genocide' vote Turkish anger at 'genocide' vote
(about 5 hours later)
Turkey has reacted angrily to a US congressional panel's resolution describing as genocide killings of Armenians in World War I. Turkey has reacted angrily to a US congressional panel's resolution describing as genocide the killings of Armenians in World War I.
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had been accused of a crime it did not commit, adding the resolution would harm Turkish-US relations.PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had been accused of a crime it did not commit, adding the resolution would harm Turkish-US relations.
Ankara has recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations and says it is considering other responses.Ankara has recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations and says it is considering other responses.
Correspondents say it is still an extremely sensitive issue in Turkey. The White House had urged against the vote as it could impede reconciliation.
The government of Turkey, a key American ally and fellow Nato member, had lobbied hard for the American Congress not to vote on the issue. The government of Turkey, a key American ally and fellow Nato member, had also lobbied hard for the American Congress not to vote on the issue.
The White House had also warned that the vote would harm reconciliation talks between Turkey and Armenia. Correspondents say it is still an extremely sensitive matter in Turkey.
The BBC's Jane O'Brien in Washington says Turkey must be hoping that, as with a similar resolution two years ago, the issue will not come to the floor of the House for a full vote.
In 2007, it passed the committee stage, but was shelved after pressure from the George W Bush administration.
DelegationDelegation
The resolution was narrowly approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.The resolution was narrowly approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
It calls on President Barack Obama to ensure that US foreign policy reflects an understanding of the "genocide" and to label the World War I killings as such in his annual statement on the issue.It calls on President Barack Obama to ensure that US foreign policy reflects an understanding of the "genocide" and to label the World War I killings as such in his annual statement on the issue.
It was approved by 23 votes to 22 by the committee.
ANALYSIS Kevin Connolly, BBC News, WashingtonANALYSIS Kevin Connolly, BBC News, Washington
Ankara has already withdrawn its ambassador from Washington for consultations - in reaction to what will be seen as a significant international insult.Ankara has already withdrawn its ambassador from Washington for consultations - in reaction to what will be seen as a significant international insult.
Washington will now be working hard to limit any further diplomatic fallout.Washington will now be working hard to limit any further diplomatic fallout.
As one of the United States' most important allies in the Muslim world, Turkey's influence is important on both Iran and Afghanistan.As one of the United States' most important allies in the Muslim world, Turkey's influence is important on both Iran and Afghanistan.
And the cheapest and safest way of extracting American soldiers from Iraq next year would be from neighbouring Turkey - if the diplomatic atmosphere permits.And the cheapest and safest way of extracting American soldiers from Iraq next year would be from neighbouring Turkey - if the diplomatic atmosphere permits.
It was approved by 23 votes to 22 by the committee.
A Turkish parliamentary delegation had gone to Washington to try to persuade committee members to reject the resolution.A Turkish parliamentary delegation had gone to Washington to try to persuade committee members to reject the resolution.
The BBC's Jane O'Brien in Washington says Turkey must be hoping that, as with a similar resolution two years ago, the issue will not come to the floor of the House for a full vote.
In 2007, it passed the committee stage, but was shelved after pressure from the George W Bush administration.
Turkey accepts that atrocities were committed but argues they were part of the war and that there was no systematic attempt to destroy the Christian Armenian people.Turkey accepts that atrocities were committed but argues they were part of the war and that there was no systematic attempt to destroy the Christian Armenian people.
The Armenian government welcomed the vote, calling it "an important step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity".The Armenian government welcomed the vote, calling it "an important step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity".
'Too important''Too important'
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had urged the House committee not to vote on Thursday on the grounds that it would damage reconciliation efforts, and said she hoped it would go no further.
MASS KILLINGS OF ARMENIANS Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915-6Many historians and the Armenian people believe the killings amount to genocideTurks and some historians deny they were orchestratedMore than 20 countries regard the massacres as genocide Q&A: Armenian genocide disputeMASS KILLINGS OF ARMENIANS Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915-6Many historians and the Armenian people believe the killings amount to genocideTurks and some historians deny they were orchestratedMore than 20 countries regard the massacres as genocide Q&A: Armenian genocide dispute
During his election campaign Mr Obama promised to brand the mass killings genocide. "We do not believe that the full Congress will or should act upon that resolution, and we have made that clear to all the parties involved," she said.
During his campaign for the 2008 election, Mr Obama promised to brand the mass killings genocide.
Mrs Clinton acknowledged his administration's change of opinion on the issue, saying circumstances had "changed in very significant ways".
In October last year, Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord normalising relations between them after a century of hostility.In October last year, Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord normalising relations between them after a century of hostility.
Armenia wants Turkey to recognise the killings as an act of genocide, but successive Turkish governments have refused to do so.Armenia wants Turkey to recognise the killings as an act of genocide, but successive Turkish governments have refused to do so.
Hundreds of thousands of Armenians died in 1915, when they were deported en masse from eastern Anatolia by the Ottoman Empire. They were killed by troops or died from starvation and disease.Hundreds of thousands of Armenians died in 1915, when they were deported en masse from eastern Anatolia by the Ottoman Empire. They were killed by troops or died from starvation and disease.
Armenians have campaigned for the killings to be recognised internationally as genocide - and more than 20 countries have done so.Armenians have campaigned for the killings to be recognised internationally as genocide - and more than 20 countries have done so.