Disagreements over security measures have reportedly led to a scuffle between Turkish Prime Minister and US President Barack Obama’s bodyguards.
Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan arrived in the US on Wednesday to attend the United Nations General Assembly and the G20 summit.
According to “Cumhuriyet”, a Turkish daily newspaper, despite long talks, security services of the two heads of states failed to come to any agreement over organizing ErdoÄŸan’s security.
Apparently, having ran out of words, Obama’s bodyguards and their Turkish colleagues turned to close combat. Recep ErdoÄŸan tried to intervene, but was manhandled by one of Obama’s bodyguards and kicked out of the room. A blemish on his reputation as a peace negotiator, no doubt.
No compromise was reached, and the US side didn’t allow the Turkish premier’s bodyguards to use means of communication. As a result, Recep ErdoÄŸan had to cancel his speech at the UN headquarters and return to the Plaza Hotel.
Reportedly, the security staff of the Turkish Prime Minister was replaced after the incident.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministries of the two states have not commented on the scandalous story.