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Merkel hits back at Turkey's claim that she's 'hiding terrorists'

The German Chancellor's spokesman says Recep Tayyip Erdogan's accusation that she is supporting terror is "clearly absurd".

By Wil Longbottom, News Reporter

Monday 13 March 2017 21:55, UK

Angela Merkel has been criticised for backing a Dutch decision to bar Turkish ministers from holding rallies
Image: Angela Merkel has been criticised for backing a Dutch decision to bar Turkish ministers from holding rallies
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has hit back at Turkey's President after he accused her of "supporting terrorists" as a diplomatic row between the two nations rumbles on.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Berlin had not responded to 4,500 dossiers sent by Ankara on terror suspects.

Speaking on A-Haber television, he said: "Mrs Merkel, why are you hiding terrorists in your country? Why are you not doing anything?

"Mrs Merkel, you are supporting terrorists."

Turkey has long accused Germany of harbouring Kurdish militants and suspects wanted over the failed coup on 15 July last year.

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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan iat the European Parliament in Brussels, in October
Image: Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Germany of harbouring Kurdish militants

Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Mrs Merkel, said the accusations were "clearly absurd".

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He added: "The Chancellor has no intention of taking part in a game of provocation. These accusations are clearly absurd."

Mr Erdogan has criticised Mrs Merkel after she following The Hague's refusal to let Turkish ministers hold rallies in the country ahead of a referendum on 16 April on expanding the Turkey President's powers.

On Monday, Ankara said the Dutch ambassador could not return to the country and added parliament would be advised to withdraw from the Dutch-Turkish friendship group.

German authorities last week also blocked rallies from taking place.

Protestors wave Turkish national flags as they shout slogans during a demonstration late on March 11, 2017 in front of the consulate of the Netherlands in Istanbul. The Dutch embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul have been sealed off for 'security reasons', Turkish foreign ministry sources said on March 11, as tensions soar between Turkey and the Netherlands after a Dutch ban on the Turkish foreign minister's visit
Image: Protests outside the Netherlands consulate in Ankara on Saturday

At that time, Mr Erdogan compared the decision to Nazism. He said: "Nazism, we can call this neo-Nazism. A new Nazism tendency."

It comes as Germany and the Netherlands revised travel advice for Turkey.

The Dutch foreign ministry urged citizens visiting Turkey to exercise caution following "diplomatic tensions" between the two nations, advising people to "be alert and avoid large crowds".

The German foreign ministry on Monday said travellers should expect heightened tensions and protests ahead of the referendum next month, and warned travellers to avoid political rallies and large crowds.

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