UPDATE - Turks demand apology for French expert's Erdogan remark

UPDATES WITH FRENCH EXPERT'S APOLOGY ON TWITTER ACCOUNT

By Omer Aydin

PARIS (AA) - French professor and former diplomat Philippe Moreau Defarges has apologized for his controversial comment suggesting the assassination of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is an option to get rid of him.

His apology came after Turks demanded an apology for his making such remarks during a discussion on Turkey’s April 16 referendum in a program on the French TV channel, BFM Business.

The French expert, who works at the French Institute of International Relations, had also said civil war was another option to break the “deadlock” in Turkey.

He also justified his argument about the assassination by saying that such actions had been taken in history for centuries.

Defarges also said Turkey would not become an EU member even if it signed an accession deal since each EU member state would need to approve it.

A large number of Turks living in France demanded an apology from the French Institute of International Relations and the TV channel that hosted Defarges.

Several complaints were also made on social media and to the French Radio and Television Supreme Council.

Later on Sunday, Defarges apologized for his remarks on Erdogan.

"On Saturday, April 22, I was invited to '7 Days in the World’ [BFM Business] to discuss my views on the situation in Turkey. Some of my statements were inappropriate and misunderstood,” Defarges tweeted in his message in French.

“I want to express my deepest sadness and sincerely apology to the people and groups I might have hurt. My words are not binding to IFRI in any way and are completely personal," he added.