LOC01:44
22:44 GMT
WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (KUNA) -- The US has asked the Turkish government for evidence behind the arrest of two of its locally employed staff who have been detained and a third who was summoned by the Turkish authorities.
"We would call upon the government of Turkey to please provide us that evidence, if there is evidence, that they were involved in what Turkey alleges is terrorism," US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters Thursday.
She added that she would like the individuals to be able to see their lawyers and asked the Turkish government to pledge to do so.
"We would hope for some calm and we would hope that we can have a dialogue with the government of Turkey. But we also have some very real concerns about whether or not Turkey intends to cooperate with the United States and -- in terms of its investigations," Nauert said.
The three staffers were all worked in "some sort of a law enforcement role," which calls into question where the Turkish government stands on law enforcement cooperation with the US, she stressed. (end)
ak.gb