US ambassador summoned in Ankara for criticizing the Turkish judiciary

The Turkish foreign ministry has summoned the US ambassador to Ankara, Francis Ricciardone, to explain his criticism of the country’s Judiciary.

The Turkish newspaper, Zaman, said Ricciardone was asked about his remarks regarding the Erjinkon case in which several businessmen, academics and military leaders are being tried for plotting to overthrow the current Turkish Government led by the Justice and Development Party.

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Turkish newspapers reported that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal warning to the Ambassador for his comments.
Turkey also issued a statement asserting that Turkey was a sovereign state and that Ambassador Ricciardone failed to appreciate this.

Ricciardone was previously rebuked several times by Turkish officials for “inappropriate” remarks about Turkish policy. Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has labelled him “the Amateur Ambassador” for his repeated outbursts.