Veering off-topic from the global meltdown, Turkey’s prime minister had his own meltdown today at Davos. See the CNBC video above and then read this BBC report, which captures only a bare hint of the full explosion:
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stormed off the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos after an argument with Israel’s president.
Mr Erdogan clashed with Shimon Peres in a discussion on the recent fighting in the Gaza Strip, telling him: “You are killing people.”
Mr Peres said Mr Erdogan would have done the same had rockets hit Istanbul.
Mr Erdogan accused the moderator of not allowing him to speak and said he did not think he would return to Davos.
He was cut off as he attempted to reply to a passionate defence of Israel’s actions made by Mr Peres.
Turkey is one of the few Muslim countries to have dealings with Israel, but relations have been under strain since the Islamist-rooted AK Party was elected to power in 2002.
“I do not think I will be coming back to Davos after this because you do not let me speak,” Mr Erdogan shouted before marching off the stage in front of Mr Peres, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and an elite audience of ministers and international officials.