Mild EU rebuke for Welfare Party ban

The British presidency of the European Union has criticised Turkey for its closure of the pro-Islamist Welfare Party saying it is concerned at the implications for democracy and freedom of expression.

The statement said the EU hoped that despite last week's ban, Turkey would make clear it remained committed to these basic principles.

The BBC's Foreign Affairs Correspondent says this is a mild rebuke, which contrasts markedly with the criticism of Turkey's human rights record at the EU summit in December.

Our correspondent says Britain may be deliberately using soft language because it wants Turkey to be involved in negotiations on EU enlargement and help reach a settlement over the divided island of Cyprus.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service