ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday that Turkey will not ask the U.S. for permission to detain or prosecute suspects.
"There is rule of law in Turkey and if someone from the U.S. diplomatic mission commits a crime, he/she will not have any privileges," Yildirim said at the ruling party's weekly parliamentary group meeting in Ankara.
His remarks came two days after the U.S. suspended non-immigrant visa operations in Turkey.
"The two countries should solve the visa issue through talks as soon as possible," Yildirim noted.
On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced it had suspended non-immigrant visa services at all diplomatic facilities in Turkey.
In response, Turkey's Washington Embassy also suspended non-immigrant visa services in the United States, citing security concerns.
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the U.S. decision as "upsetting," saying Turkey's response is "based on the rules of reciprocity."
The spat between the two countries was ignited by the recent arrest of Metin Topuz, a U.S. consulate employee in Istanbul, over suspected links to U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Ankara of being behind a failed coup attempt in July 2016.