Erdogan slams European plans to destroy traffickers' [empty] vessels
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday condemned what he said were suggestions in Europe to sink human traffickers' vessels, insisting the plans would leave migrants "to their deaths."
Erdogan's comments came a day before European Union leaders were scheduled to hold an emergency summit in Brussels to discuss ways of stemming migrant trafficking after a boat carrying hundreds of people destined for Europe capsized off Libya. Authorities believe 800 may have been killed.
Combatting the traffickers by arresting ringleaders and destroying their boats has emerged as a proposal to be discussed at the summit, although no one has mentioned targeting boats with people onboard.
Erdogan, speaking at a joint news conference with visiting Iraqi President Fuad Masum, suggested however, the European plans could pave the way for ships being sunk while carrying migrants. ...