Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended the actions of police against antigovernment protesters, accusing Western countries of having a "double standard" in their criticism.
Erdogan said on June 14 that "the whole world is attacking" Turkey's police for the way they use "certain methods" to "intervene" and "disperse unlawful actions."
He said there are dozens of examples of tear gas and other similar tactics being used by police in the United States, the European Union, and Russia.
He said European Union efforts to "denigrate Turkey" over police crackdowns "will be useless."
The European Parliament on June 12 passed a resolution condemning the heavy-handed response by Turkish police to demonstrators.
At least four people have been killed and hundreds injured by police crackdowns during the past two weeks.
Erdogan said on June 14 that "the whole world is attacking" Turkey's police for the way they use "certain methods" to "intervene" and "disperse unlawful actions."
He said there are dozens of examples of tear gas and other similar tactics being used by police in the United States, the European Union, and Russia.
He said European Union efforts to "denigrate Turkey" over police crackdowns "will be useless."
The European Parliament on June 12 passed a resolution condemning the heavy-handed response by Turkish police to demonstrators.
At least four people have been killed and hundreds injured by police crackdowns during the past two weeks.
