Turkey Rejects German Criticism over Rights Abuses

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday rejected criticism from Germany's president who said he was "scared" by the Turkey's recent spate of rights abuses. 

"I think he still thinks of himself as pastor," Erdogan told parliament, a day after he met with German President Joachim Gauck who is on a four-day visit to Turkey.

Gauck, an outspoken former Lutheran pastor, gave a harsh indictment of recent actions by the Turkish government during speeches in Ankara on Monday -- particularly efforts to ban Twitter and YouTube and increase control over the judiciary in response to protests and a corruption scandal.

"I must confess that these developments are scaring me," Gauck said in a speech at the Middle East Technical University.

Erdogan said Gauck's "approach upset me".

"We have no hesitation, or fear. We can never tolerate interference in our domestic affairs," he told parliament.