Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday refused to condemn Saudi Arabia for its execution of 47 convicts including a prominent Shiite cleric, saying it was an "internal legal matter" of the Kingdom. "The executions in Saudi Arabia are an internal legal matter. Whether you approve or not of the decision is a separate issue," Erdogan said in a televised speech, his first reaction to the controversy which has raised tensions between Saudi Arabia and its regional rival Iran. Erdogan had last month visited Riyadh for talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and other leaders. Turkey and Saudi Arabia share the same vision over the conflict in Syria where they believe only the ousting of President Bashar Al-Assad can bring an end to almost five years of civil war. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday urged Iran and Saudi Arabia to calm tensions, saying the hostility between the two key Muslim powers would only further escalate problems in an explosive region. Djibouti cuts ties with Iran Djibouti has cut its diplomatic relations with Iran, Al-Arabiya news channel said on Wednesday, quoting an official source. Saudi Arabia severed its own ties with Iran on Sunday after protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran. Fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member Bahrain has also cut ties with Iran and Kuwait has recalled its envoy to Iran. UAE reduced its diplomatic representation with Iran. Several Arab and Islamic countries also cut or downgraded their diplomatic ties with Iran. Jordan summons Iranian ambassador Meanwhile, Jordan's foreign ministry summoned Iranian Ambassador to lodge a strong protest against attacks on the Saudi diplomatic missions. In a press statement, a spokesman said the ministry confirmed Jordan's position condemning the Iranian intervention in the domestic affairs of Arab countries, rejected the recent statements by senior Iranian officials as blatant breach of Saudi Arabia's internal affairs, underscored the necessity of respecting the rulings issued by the judicial institutions in the Kingdom, and asserted Jordan's support for Saudi Arabia's efforts in fighting terrorism and extremism. He said the ministry also drew the attention that statements and practices of some Iranian officials could ignite sectarian strife in the region and the world at large, feed extremism and create fertile environment for its spread as the region is on the verge of danger resulting from increasing extremism and terrorism.
