Jane Onyanga-Omara

USA TODAY

Turkey summoned John Bass, the U.S ambassador to Ankara, to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, in protest at the treatment of Turkish security personnel following a brawl in Washington last week.

The bodyguards of Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu were involved in a clash with protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence, the Turkish government said. It happened hours after President Trump met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

Eleven people, including a police officer, were injured and two people, at least one of whom was a protester, were arrested for assault, police in Washington said.

The State Department said two Turkish security personnel were briefly detained before being released.

In a statement Monday, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ambassador was summoned and “a written and verbal protest was delivered due to the aggressive and unprofessional actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by U.S. security personnel toward the close protection team of H.E Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.”

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“It has been formally requested that the U.S. authorities conduct a full investigation of this diplomatic incident and provide the necessary explanation,” the statement said.

“During the meeting with the Ambassador, it was emphasized that the lapses of security experienced during our President's stay in Washington, which were caused by the inability of U.S. authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program, will not overshadow what in every other aspect was a very successful and important visit,” it added.

Police in Washington called the incident “a brutal attack” on peaceful protesters. Turkey blamed the violence on protesters with ties to the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Reuters reported.

“We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms,” said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert last week.

Sen. John McCain tweeted following the incident: “Turkish security guards' attack on peaceful protesters this wk was a despicable display of thuggery & repression - absolutely unacceptable.” He also called for the removal of Turkey's ambassador to the U.S.

Serdar Kılıç, Turkey’s ambassador to Washington, was summoned to the State Department on Wednesday following the incident, CNN and NBC reported.