Ecevit lambasts Iran

The Turkish prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, has accused Iran of supporting groups hostile to the Turkish state.

Mr Ecevit was speaking in Ankara after the latest in a series of arrests of suspected Islamic militants in connection with the killing of prominent Turkish intellectuals.

He said separatist groups in Turkey -- a reference to the Kurds -- and others exploiting religion, had benefited from Iran's hospitality -- or had used its tendency to export the Islamic revolution.

Mr Ecevit said Turkey was very upset by the lack of cooperation from Iran.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service