ANKARA: Turkey on Tuesday slammed what it called "arrogant" EU calls for Ankara to withdraw from Syria, accusing the bloc of "double standards." Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu rebuked his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde who reiterated the European Union's position urging Turkey to withdraw from Syria.

"To use the word 'urge' is arrogant and incorrect in diplomacy," Cavusoglu snapped during a news conference in Ankara with Linde standing alongside him. "You try to teach Turkey about international law and human rights ... but you practise double standards."

Since 2016, Turkey has launched three military operations in northern Syria to drive out Syrian Kurdish militia forces deemed as "terrorists" by Ankara.