7 Feb 2016

Ecuador blasts Turkey for alleged violence towards protesters

12:59 pm on 7 February 2016

Ecuador has protested to Turkey over an incident in which demonstrators were violently ejected during a speech by the visiting Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the capital, Quito.

Mr Erdogan's bodyguards clashed with protesters during an official visit to Ecuador to boost diplomatic and trade ties on Friday.

A group of women opposed to Turkey's treatment of the outlawed Kurdish rebel group, the PKK, denounced Mr Erdogan as a "murderer" when he gave a speech in the capital, Quito.

Mr Erdogan's security team dragged the women from the room and an Ecuadorean MP was also reportedly injured during the incident.

Ecuador's foreign minister said the guards' behaviour was "irresponsible".