Erdogan says US 'partner to bloodshed' over Jerusalem recognition

The US decision - breaking with decades of foreign policy - has triggered concern and disapproval by US allies as well as protests around the world.

Four Palestinians have been killed in clashes or from Israeli airstrikes since Trump's announcement, with hundreds more injured by Israeli forces during demonstrations.

The Turkish president, who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, said the "struggle" of Muslims would not end until there was an independent Palestinian state.

"They will never be able to clean the blood," he said in a speech in Ankara.

Erdogan bitterly opposes Trump's decision and has sought to mobilise the Muslim world against it, calling a summit of Islamic countries on 13 December in Istanbul.

He said Wednesday's summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul would be a "turning point" on the issue.

"With this recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it (the United States) has become a partner to this bloodshed. We do not recognise this decision, we will not," he added.

Turkey initially had high hopes for bilateral relations under the Trump presidency, but ties have frayed with rows over the Syrian war, a New York legal case, and now Jerusalem.

Erdogan said that the current "vandalism and cruelty" in Jerusalem would not last. "Those who think they own Jerusalem today will not find trees to hide behind," he said.

Relations between Israel and Turkey soured on Sunday as Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu traded accusations of involvement in terrorism days after the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Erdogan described Israel as a "terrorist state" that kills children, with Netanyahu hitting back hours later by calling his counterpart a leader who bombs Kurdish villagers and supports terrorists.

Last year, Turkey and Israel ended a rift triggered by Israel's killing of ten Turkish activists after a raid on a Gaza-bound ship in 2010.

The incident led to a downgrading of diplomatic ties, but the two sides have since stepped up cooperation, particularly in energy.