Merkel supports Netherlands amid Turkey spat

Berlin, March 14 (IANS) Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her support for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte after Turkey accused his Netherland's government of "Nazism".

During a press conference in Munich on Monday, Angela Merkel qualified Turkey's accusations of "Nazism", "completely unacceptable" after similar claims were leveled at Germany, Efe news reported.

Merkel pointed out that she had rejected Ankara's comparison last week, adding that this rejection extended to comparisons affecting the Netherlands, who had "suffered so much" under the Nazis.

A diplomatic spat between the Netherlands and Turkey gained momentum over the weekend after Dutch authorities denied landing permission for a plane carrying Turkey's foreign minister who was planning to attend a referendum campaign in Rotterdam.

The Turkish government recently launched a verbal attack on the German government after similar events were cancelled in Germany.

Turkey is preparing for a referendum that could pave the way for Erdogan to assume more powers as president.