Washington Post makes 'terrorist propaganda': Turkey

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's top diplomat lambasted Thursday the U.S.-based Washington Post for making “terrorist propaganda” by publishing an article by Cemil Bayik, a so-called PKK terror group leader.

The article did not fall under the freedom of press and expression, and it is a “terrorist propaganda”, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a live interview on TRT Haber news channel.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.

On the regime attacks in Idlib, northwestern Syria, Cavusoglu said Russia must keep the Bashar al-Assad regime under control over attacks in the region, mostly targeting the civilians, hospitals and schools.

Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression would be expressly prohibited.

The regime, however, has consistently broken the terms of the ceasefire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.