Turkey says doesn't need US permission to prosecute citizen

ANKARA – Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Tuesday his country doesn't need Washington's permission to prosecute its citizens, the latest swipe in an escalating feud with the United States over the arrest of a US consulate employee.

In a speech to his ruling party's legislators in Parliament, Yildirim also slammed Washington for the arrest of a Turkish banker for his alleged role in helping Iran escape US sanctions, and for its failure to extradite US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey says was behind last year's failed coup.

The US on Sunday suspended most visa services for Turkish citizens after the arrest of Metin Topuz, a Turkish staff member at the US consulate in Istanbul, on charges of espionage and alleged ties to Gulen's movement, saying it wanted to reassess Turkey's commitment to the safety of US personnel. Turkey retaliated by halting visas services in the US.