Turkey has expressed "deep regret" over comments by U.S. President Barack Obama commemorating the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I.
Obama described the event as "one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century."
The U.S. leader also said the Armenians were "brutally massacred or marched to their deaths," but he did not use the word "genocide."
Turkey's Foreign Ministry described Obama's remarks as "biased" and a distortion of "historical facts."
Armenians and most historians agree the killings during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire constituted genocide.
Many in Turkey, however, argue the Armenians were killed in the chaos of war and that the number is less than 1.5 million.
Obama's remarks coincided with Armenia's annual remembrance of the event.
Obama described the event as "one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century."
The U.S. leader also said the Armenians were "brutally massacred or marched to their deaths," but he did not use the word "genocide."
Turkey's Foreign Ministry described Obama's remarks as "biased" and a distortion of "historical facts."
Armenians and most historians agree the killings during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire constituted genocide.
Many in Turkey, however, argue the Armenians were killed in the chaos of war and that the number is less than 1.5 million.
Obama's remarks coincided with Armenia's annual remembrance of the event.
