Turkey's Erdogan says Russia IS oil trade claims are 'slander'

Russia has said Turkey is the biggest buyer of oil smuggled from IS-held territory, accusing Mr Erdogan and his family of direct involvement.

But the Turkish president said he would resign if such allegations were proved.

Russia and Turkey are locked in an angry spat over the downing of a Russian fighter jet by Ankara.

Responding to the allegations, Mr Erdogan said "no one has a right to engage in slander against Turkey by saying that Turkey is buying oil from Daesh [IS]".

Earlier, Russia's defence ministry displayed satellite images it said showed columns of trucks loaded with oil crossing from IS territory in Iraq and Syria into Turkey.

"According to available information, the highest level of the political leadership of the country, President Erdogan and his family, are involved in this criminal business," Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told the briefing in Moscow.

Russia said it was producing only "part of the evidence" for now and did not provide direct proof of their claim that Mr Erdogan and family were involved.

The US has also rejected the allegations. "We just don't believe that to be true in any way, shape or form," a State Department spokesman said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already accused Ankara of downing the plane on its Syrian border to protect oil supply lines.

Mr Erdogan on Wednesday called Russia's response "disproportional" and said Turkey would take their "own measures" if they continued, without specifying what they would be.

Despite the tensions Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said he is prepared to meet Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu at a security conference in Serbia this week.

It would be the first time the men have met since the downing of the jet.

 

(BBC)