US President Donald Trump meets with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey during the UN General Assembly in New York, US, September 21, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump on Thursday praised Turkey?s President Tayyip Erdogan as a friend despite tensions between the two countries over Turkish security officials involved in street fighting with protesters during a visit to Washington in May.

Meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump hailed Erdogan?s leadership in Turkey and said Erdogan ?has become a friend of mine?.

?I think now we?re as close as we?ve ever been,? he said.

Eleven people were hurt in what Washington?s police chief described as a brutal attack on peaceful demonstrators outside the Turkish ambassador?s residence.

Ankara blamed the violence on groups linked to Kurdish militants fighting an armed campaign in southeastern Turkey.