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Turkey recalls ambassador to US Turkey recalls ambassador to US
(about 6 hours later)
Ankara is recalling its ambassador to Washington for consultations amid anger at a vote in Congress labelling the mass killing of Armenians as genocide.Ankara is recalling its ambassador to Washington for consultations amid anger at a vote in Congress labelling the mass killing of Armenians as genocide.
The passing of the resolution by a House committee on Wednesday despite appeals by the Bush administration was denounced by President Abdullah Gul.The passing of the resolution by a House committee on Wednesday despite appeals by the Bush administration was denounced by President Abdullah Gul.
Turkey accepts there were mass killings in 1915-17 but denies genocide.Turkey accepts there were mass killings in 1915-17 but denies genocide.
Turkey's foreign ministry said the ambassador would return to Turkey for a stay of "a week or 10 days".Turkey's foreign ministry said the ambassador would return to Turkey for a stay of "a week or 10 days".
"We are not withdrawing our ambassador," said ministry spokesman Levent Bilman."We are not withdrawing our ambassador," said ministry spokesman Levent Bilman.
READ THE RESOLUTION US House of Representatives' Armenian Genocide Resolution [30KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Armenian influence in US READ THE RESOLUTION US House of Representatives' Armenian Genocide Resolution [30KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Armenian influence in US class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7040229.stm">Readers debate US vote
"We have asked him to come to Turkey for some consultations.""We have asked him to come to Turkey for some consultations."
US President George W Bush had argued against the resolution, saying its passage would do "great harm" to relations with "a key ally in Nato and in the global war on terror".US President George W Bush had argued against the resolution, saying its passage would do "great harm" to relations with "a key ally in Nato and in the global war on terror".
Turkey is a regional operational hub for the US military, and some suggest access to Incirlik airbase or other supply lines crucial to US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan could be affected by the row.Turkey is a regional operational hub for the US military, and some suggest access to Incirlik airbase or other supply lines crucial to US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan could be affected by the row.
The US also fears Turkey may make a military incursion into northern Iraq to neutralise Kurdish separatist guerrillas, who continue to cross the border to ambush Turkish troops there.The US also fears Turkey may make a military incursion into northern Iraq to neutralise Kurdish separatist guerrillas, who continue to cross the border to ambush Turkish troops there.
'Unacceptable and invalid''Unacceptable and invalid'
The non-binding vote, passed by 27 to 21 votes by members of the congressional House Foreign Affairs Committee, is the first step towards holding a vote in the House of Representatives.The non-binding vote, passed by 27 to 21 votes by members of the congressional House Foreign Affairs Committee, is the first step towards holding a vote in the House of Representatives.
A German soldier took photos of Armenian deportees at the timeA German soldier took photos of Armenian deportees at the time
It was welcomed by Armenian President Robert Kocharyan who said he hoped for "full [US] recognition... of the genocide".It was welcomed by Armenian President Robert Kocharyan who said he hoped for "full [US] recognition... of the genocide".
For Turkey's president, the US vote showed that some US politicians had "closed their ears to calls to be reasonable and once again sought to sacrifice big problems for small domestic political games".For Turkey's president, the US vote showed that some US politicians had "closed their ears to calls to be reasonable and once again sought to sacrifice big problems for small domestic political games".
"This unacceptable decision of the committee, like similar ones in the past, is not regarded by the Turkish people as valid or of any value," Mr Gul said late on Wednesday."This unacceptable decision of the committee, like similar ones in the past, is not regarded by the Turkish people as valid or of any value," Mr Gul said late on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that the Turkish parliament would discuss allowing military incursions into northern Iraq, possibly next week.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that the Turkish parliament would discuss allowing military incursions into northern Iraq, possibly next week.
The move comes after an escalation in attacks by the PKK killed almost 30 soldiers and civilians in just over a week.The move comes after an escalation in attacks by the PKK killed almost 30 soldiers and civilians in just over a week.
Mr Erdogan said such authorisation, which would be valid for one year, would ensure all options were available to Turkey in its fight against the PKK.Mr Erdogan said such authorisation, which would be valid for one year, would ensure all options were available to Turkey in its fight against the PKK.
Burning argumentBurning argument
Last year, the lower house of the French parliament declared the killings of Armenians a genocide and at least 20 countries at various levels of legislation have passed resolutions on the issue.Last year, the lower house of the French parliament declared the killings of Armenians a genocide and at least 20 countries at various levels of legislation have passed resolutions on the issue.
If you start counting the killing of people in recent history, the situation in Darfur should get top priority Bob, USA BBC News website reader Your commentsIf you start counting the killing of people in recent history, the situation in Darfur should get top priority Bob, USA BBC News website reader Your comments
Armenia alleges that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in an organised campaign to force them out of what is now eastern Turkey.Armenia alleges that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in an organised campaign to force them out of what is now eastern Turkey.
That is strongly denied by Turkey, which says that large numbers of both Turks and Armenians were killed in the chaos surrounding World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, when there was an uprising by Armenians.That is strongly denied by Turkey, which says that large numbers of both Turks and Armenians were killed in the chaos surrounding World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, when there was an uprising by Armenians.
Earlier on Thursday, the son of murdered Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink was found guilty by a Turkish court of insulting "Turkishness" along with another newspaper editor.Earlier on Thursday, the son of murdered Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink was found guilty by a Turkish court of insulting "Turkishness" along with another newspaper editor.
Arat Dink and Serkis Seropyan were convicted after printing Dink's arguments for describing the Ottoman-era killings as genocide.Arat Dink and Serkis Seropyan were convicted after printing Dink's arguments for describing the Ottoman-era killings as genocide.


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