This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25066115
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Egypt expels Turkish ambassador | Egypt expels Turkish ambassador |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Egypt has told the Turkish ambassador to leave the country, a day after the Turkish leader called for ousted President Mohammed Morsi to be freed. | |
Relations with Ankara would be lowered to charge d'affaires, officials said. | |
On Friday, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeated his criticism of the July overthrow of Mr Morsi and urged the Egyptian authorities to free him. | |
Egypt's foreign ministry accused Mr Erdogan of provocation and interfering in Egypt's internal affairs. | |
Responding to Cairo's decision to expel ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali, Turkey also announced the downgrading of ties and barred the Egyptian ambassador, declaring him "persona non grata". | |
Turkey has been a vocal critic of the military overthrow of Mr Morsi, who is in prison awaiting trial on charges of inciting murder and violence. | |
He is one of thousands belonging to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood who have been detained in a crackdown the interim authorities have portrayed as a struggle against "terrorism". | |
Hundreds of people have also been killed in clashes with security forces. | Hundreds of people have also been killed in clashes with security forces. |
Bitter row | Bitter row |
Mr Erdogan renewed his criticisms on Friday, condemning the violent dispersal of pro-Morsi protesters in August. | |
Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty accused Mr Erdogan of "interfering in Egypt's internal affairs". | |
He said Turkey was "attempting to influence public opinion against Egyptian interests, supported meetings of organisations that seek to create instability in the country". | |
A bitter row over the August crackdown led both countries to recall their ambassadors. | |
Turkey's ambassador to Cairo returned in September, but the Egyptian ambassador to Turkey was never reinstalled. | Turkey's ambassador to Cairo returned in September, but the Egyptian ambassador to Turkey was never reinstalled. |
Mr Erdogan, like Mr Morsi, has his roots in political Islam. Ankara and Istanbul have hosted a series of meetings of the international Muslim Brotherhood. | Mr Erdogan, like Mr Morsi, has his roots in political Islam. Ankara and Istanbul have hosted a series of meetings of the international Muslim Brotherhood. |