BBC Online :
Turkey’s president has said he is withdrawing all lawsuits against people charged with insulting him.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was inspired by the feelings of unity in the wake of the recent failed coup.
But he also stepped up his attacks on nations criticising his crackdown in the wake of the coup attempt, telling them to “mind your own business”.
He earlier blasted US Gen Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, saying he was “on the side of the coup plotters”.
Gen Votel had said in remarks on Thursday that the jailing of some military leaders could damage Turkish-American military co-operation.
Mr Erdogan said at the presidential palace: “I am going to withdraw all the cases regarding the disrespectful insults made against me.” He said it was a one-off gesture of goodwill.
But Mr Erdogan was also defiant in the face of criticism over his crackdown, which the interior ministry said on Friday had seen 18,000 detentions.
He said: “Some people give us advice. They say they are worried. Mind your own business! Look at your own deeds. “Not a single person has come to give condolences either from the European Union… or from the West..
Turkey’s president has said he is withdrawing all lawsuits against people charged with insulting him.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was inspired by the feelings of unity in the wake of the recent failed coup.
But he also stepped up his attacks on nations criticising his crackdown in the wake of the coup attempt, telling them to “mind your own business”.
He earlier blasted US Gen Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, saying he was “on the side of the coup plotters”.
Gen Votel had said in remarks on Thursday that the jailing of some military leaders could damage Turkish-American military co-operation.
Mr Erdogan said at the presidential palace: “I am going to withdraw all the cases regarding the disrespectful insults made against me.” He said it was a one-off gesture of goodwill.
But Mr Erdogan was also defiant in the face of criticism over his crackdown, which the interior ministry said on Friday had seen 18,000 detentions.
He said: “Some people give us advice. They say they are worried. Mind your own business! Look at your own deeds. “Not a single person has come to give condolences either from the European Union… or from the West..
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