Turkey boycotts US ambassador

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday vowed that Turkish officials would boycott the US ambassador to Ankara, stepping up one of the worst rows in decades between the two Nato allies.

Erdogan said Turkey no longer regarded ambassador John Bass as the US representative to Turkey after American missions in the country stopped issuing visas.

The dispute erupted last week when Turkey arrested a Turkish employee of the American consulate on suspicion of links to the group blamed for last year's failed coup.

In response, the United States stopped issuing non-immigrant visas from its missions in Turkey, prompting Turkish missions in the United States to hit back with a tit-for-tat step of their own.