Turkey summons Egyptian diplomat over broadcast row

Turkey has expressed "unease" over Egyptian accusations that Arabic language TV channels promote violence through online broadcasts to Egypt through Turkey, state media reported Thursday.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned Hussein Elsaharty, Egypt's chargé d'affaires in Ankara, to convey "unease over unfounded" accusations by Egyptian officials concerning Turkey, and asked Cairo to put an end to such accusations, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing diplomatic sources.

Three broadcasters -- Aan, Rabia and Al-Sark -- allegedly urged Egyptians to use violence and advised foreigners to leave Egypt before a major investment summit there next month.

Cairo recently accused Turkey of propagating terrorist activities in Egypt, saying that the TV channels, set up by circles affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, were "promoting violence" in Egypt via their broadcasts.

Last week, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish embassy's chargé d'affaires in Cairo to warn against the broadcasters.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tanju Bilgic, said Turkish authorities will analyze the content of those stations with alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood broadcasting through Turkey.

According to the ministry, the broadcasters are not licensed to broadcast through Turkey.

Ties between Ankara and Cairo have remained strained since the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests against his turbulent one-year rule.

Turkey, a strong supporter of Islamist rule in Egypt, has been a vocal critic of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who was army chief at the time when Morsi was removed.

The two countries have since downgraded their diplomatic ties to charge d'affaires level, recalling ambassadors from each other's capital. Endit