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ISTANBUL — Turkey has issued a travel warning for its citizens about going to the United States, citing violent protests following Tuesday's contested presidential election as well as increasing verbal and physical attacks and harassment of an "anti-immigrant" and "racist" nature.

In a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry's website Saturday, it said the anti-Donald Trump demonstrations "occasionally featured acts of crime and violence" and noted that security forces had detained many demonstrators.

It says "based on demonstrators' social media posts, it's clear the demonstrations will likely continue for some time."

Turkey earlier this month criticized a U.S. decision to order family members of employees posted to the Istanbul Consulate to leave because of security concerns. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted that Istanbul or Ankara was "not more unsafe than any U.S. state."