Advertisement

Turkey warns Europe not to meddle in referendum, 'mind its own business', PM Yildirim says

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim speaks to the media during a visit in Nicosia, northern Cyprus March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey was warning Europe not to interfere in a referendum next month on changing the constitution and expanding President Tayyip Erdogan's powers, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday, adding Europe should "mind its own business". The issue of the referendum has already badly strained relations between Turkey and several European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, after they banned Turkish ministers from campaigning in their cities ahead of the April 16 referendum. Yildirim made the comments at a referendum rally in the southern Anatolian province of Karaman. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by David Dolan)