Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his predecessor Abdullah Gül exchanged criticism during an iftar Saturday bringing their disagreement public, London-based newspaper Al-Hayat reported Monday.
"The relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his predecessor, Abdullah Gul, his colleague and his co-founder of the ruling [Justice and Development] Party, has reached the stage of public confrontation," the newspaper reported.
Erdogan described Gül as "coward, traitor and clings to his personal interests in politics," the newspaper added.
Erdogan's accusations came in response to Gül's call on the government to reconsider its foreign policy especially regarding Syria and Egypt so as Turkey restores its pivotal role in the region being a mediator for peace.
"It's useful to review our policies in the Middle East and Arab world through a more realistic convergence. A major development is expected in the region and if a major chaos occurred we might face unexpected surprises," Gul said.
Gül said Turkey needed to develop its relations with all countries including Egypt.
Erdogan responded saying that major countries have stable policies.
"We left behind traitors, cowards, hesitants and those who cling to their personal interests in the world of politics and we continued our political path without change. For them, they have now become out of the [world] of politics," said Erdogan.
These words fell on the audience hall like a bomb, as attendees were shocked at the exchange. Through this confrontation, it became clear that Erdogan rejects any change in Ankara's foreign policy, which would be reflected on efforts to form a new Cabinet, the Al-Hayat newspaper said.
Relations have been strained between Cairo and Ankara following the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi by former army general and current Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in July 2013.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
