An armoured Turkish police vehicle is parked near the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, December 20, 2016. Photo: Reuters

 

ANKARA: The US mission to Turkey said on Sunday it had suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey, on the grounds that it needed to ?reassess? Turkey?s commitment to its personnel.

?Recent events have forced the United States government to reassess the commitment of the government of Turkey to the security of US mission and personnel,? the statement by the mission in Ankara said.

?In order to minimize the number of visitors to our embassy and consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey.?

Last week, a US consulate employee in Istanbul was arrested on charges of links to a cleric blamed for last year?s failed coup, a move condemned by Washington as baseless and damaging to ties between the NATO allies.