Istanbul - (AFP) - The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of nine Western countries Thursday, after a number of them temporarily suspended their consular services in Istanbul this week due to a terrorist threat, the official Anadolu news agency reported.
A diplomatic source told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the nine countries involved are the United States, France, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy and Sweden.
At least six countries, including France, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, have announced in recent days the temporary suspension of the services of their consular offices in Istanbul.
Since Friday, several Western embassies have called on their citizens in Turkey to be "vigilant" in the face of the dangers of attacks, in retaliation, according to them, for the burning of the Qur'an in northern European countries.
The United States and France, in particular, recommended avoiding certain tourist areas in central Istanbul, such as Taksim Square and the vicinity of Christian and Jewish churches.
On Thursday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu accused those countries of waging a "psychological war" against Turkey that could harm its tourism sector and "seeking to destabilize it."
A spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party described the Western warnings as "irresponsible".
Several demonstrations were held at the end of January in Stockholm, The Hague and Copenhagen, during which the Qur'ans were burned or desecrated.
The extremist, who carried out arson attacks in the Swedish and Danish capitals, says he is protesting Turkey's obstruction of Sweden's accession to NATO.
שתף את דעתך
Ankara summons the ambassadors of nine countries that warned their nationals of a terrorist threat in Turkey