Prosecutors Investigate Comment About Army

Turkish prosecutors said they had begun an investigation to determine whether a European Parliament lawmaker should be prosecuted for insulting Turkey's armed forces.

Dutch lawmaker Joost Lagendijk reportedly told Turkish journalists the Turkish military was provoking clashes with autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels.

The decision is likely to further strain the country's ties with the European Union as Turkey seeks to join. EU officials have criticized Turkey for charging Orhan Pamuk, the country's best known novelist, with insulting the nation.