Denying The Accusation Of The PKK Regarding The Use Of Chemical Weapons, President Erdogan: Fitnah, We Will Ask For Accountability

JAKARTA - The Turkish Armed Forces have never used chemical weapons and they comply with international law, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed.

The Turkish leader said legal action would be taken against those who made accusations on the matter, broadcaster NTV reported on Friday.

Media close to the militant group the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) published a video this week, which it said showed chemical weapons being used by Turkish soldiers against the PKK in northern Iraq.

"Our armed forces do not use chemical weapons to this day," President Erdogan said while on the plane on his way back from a visit to Azerbaijan.

"They will always say slander like that. We will hold them accountable as required in law," he stressed.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense and top officials on Thursday also denied that the armed forces had used chemical weapons in their operations against Kurdish militants.

Separately, Turkish prosecutors on Thursday opened an investigation into the head of the Turkish Medical Association, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, after he said on television the footage showed the use of toxic gas and called for an independent investigation.

State-owned news agency Anadolu said Dr Fincanci was accused of "making terrorist group propaganda" and "lowening the Turkish nation, the Republic of Turkey and its institutions".