Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim today rejected American criticism over the arrest of US consulate staffers. He said that Ankara does not need Washington's approval to arrest the US consulate employee who is a Turkish citizen. <br/><br/><br/>A row between the two NATO allies erupted last week when Turkey jailed an employee of the American consulate in Istanbul, as part of an investigation into last year's failed coup. The consulate employee was remanded in custody over accusations of links to the movement led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for masterminding the July 2016 coup bid. <br/><br/>The staffer has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government but US embassy rejected the accusations. The US responded to the arrest by banning non-immigrant visas from Turkey and Ankara hit back with its own visa suspension. <br/><br/>