Turkey summons Swiss ambassador over PKK rally in Bern


Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned Sunday the Swiss ambassador to Ankara over terrorist organization PKK sympathizers' Saturday rally targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Bern.

A ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said the ministry has reiterated its uneasiness to Ambassador Walter Haffner over the issue.

The ministry called the Swiss side to take the necessary judicial measures against this criminal act, the official added.

On Saturday, Around 250 PKK supporters and some socialist party supporters including followers of the Green Party of Switzerland gathered Saturday in front of the Parliament building in the Swiss capital city of Bern where a rally was staged to promote the "No" vote for Turkey's upcoming referendum.

Some protesters were holding placards that read "Kill Erdoğan" under a photo of a handgun pointed at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's head.

Among those participating in the rally were supporters of the far-left terrorist group the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).

Feleknas Uca, a member of the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) also gave a speech during the controversial rally, urging Turks to vote "No" in the referendum.

The Turkish ministry immediately conveyed Turkey's reaction to the deputy chief of mission of Switzerland in Ankara on Saturday because Haffner was out of the city.

Ankara has repeatedly criticized the EU and the West for picking and choosing terror groups, particularly for allowing the PKK to carry out its activities within the borders of European cities.