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Turkey slams Germany, Belgium for inaction on terrorism

Xinhua, November 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Germany and Belgium on Wednesday for their inaction against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Fethullah Gulen's movement in their countries.

He accused Belgium of being an essential center for supporters of both groups, reported the local Hurriyet daily news agency.

"They always give their expressions about the fight against terror. However, we will not open up to these expressions anymore, we want implementation," Erdogan said during a press conference in Ankara.

Erdogan also called on Egyptian authorities to release deposed former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi, after an Egyptian court overturned a death sentence against him.

"A fair process is not implemented for Morsi and his friends. They should not only immediately be released, but also should pave the way for the retrial of Morsi and his companions," Erdogan told reporters.

"Nobody should regard it as intervening Egypt's interior affairs," he said, adding that there had never been "a democratic approach" on the issue of a coup to a president "who was elected with 52 percent of the votes."

Erdogan also said he expects the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG), the military wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Turkey considers is affiliated with the PKK, to retreat to the east of the Euphrates River in a few days.

The Free Syrian Army forces, supported by Turkey in Syria, approached the town of El-Bab and a full repossession is anticipated, he stated.

In addition, president Erdogan welcomed a decision by Pakistani authorities to deport hundreds of teachers and their families with alleged links to Fethullah Gulen's group.

The Turkish government blames Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric based in the U.S., for masterminding the failed July coup attempt.

The teachers and their families, around 450 individuals, were given a three-day notice to leave, said PakTurk International Schools and Colleges in a statement on Tuesday. Enditem