Turkey, United States suspend visa services over consular row

Turkey and the United States have mutually suspended most visa services following a consular row between both countries

This comes after a United States consulate worker in Istanbul was held last week on suspicion of links to a cleric blamed for last year’s failed coup in Turkey.

The Turkish embassy in Washington said it needed to reassess the United States government’s commitment to the security of the mission and personnel.

Reports say a very similar statement was earlier made by the United States embassy in Ankara.

Washington condemned the move as baseless and harmful to bilateral relations.

The arrested consulate employee was a male Turkish citizen.