By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA

Turkey on Sunday criticized the Greek justice minister halting the extradition of an accused far-left terrorist to Turkey.

"The extradition of Turgut Kaya was refused by the decision of the Greek minister of justice despite the Greek judiciary’s ruling in favor of extradition to Turkey," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy in a statement.

"This reveals once again that the traditional sentiments of the Greek political power against Turkey have not changed," he added.

"Greece, which provided shelter to the jailed head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, in the past, today grants asylum to criminals wanted by Turkey," Aksoy stressed.

Turgut Kaya, 45, a suspected member of the extreme-left terrorist TKP/ML, was arrested this February while trying to enter Greece.

According to Greek judicial procedures, the final decision on Kaya -- for whom there is an Interpol red notice -- is to be made by Kontonis.