ISTANBUL, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned on Thursday U.S. Ambassador in Ankara, Francis Ricciardone, to " clarify" his recent critical remarks against Turkish judiciary, local media reported.
However, the information department of the ministry could not confirm the report.
Ricciardone recently expressed his doubt for the ongoing case of Ergenekon, an alleged clandestine organization in Turkey, in which military officials along with some businessmen and academics are being tried over charges of attempting to topple the democratically elected government.
The U.S. diplomat questioned the way the Turkish legal system works, and did not refrain from presenting his support for generals jailed pending trial as part of the probe into Ergenekon.
He criticized the way suspects, who either stand trial as part of the coup investigations or face other charges, are treated, noting that there are jailed deputies for a long time and the charges they face are not even known.
On Wednesday, Justice and Development Party spokesman Huseyin Celik slammed Ricciardone's remarks over Turkish judicial system, terming the U.S. envoy's statements as meddling in Turkey's internal affairs.
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