The Latest: Turkey responds angrily to Trump on sanctions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on U.S.-threatened sanctions on Turkey over a detained American pastor (all times local):

1:30 p.m.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (MEHV'-loot chah-voo-SHOH'-loo) says his country doesn't tolerate "threats." His comment came shortly after President Donald Trump announced sanctions would be imposed on Turkey because of an American pastor detained on terror and espionage charges.

Cavusoglu says: "We will never tolerate threats from anybody. Rule of law is for everyone; no exception."

The statement was not explicitly directed toward the United States, but was posted in English on Twitter just a few hours after Trump — who also used Twitter — threatened sanctions.

Ties between NATO allies Turkey and the United States have been strained by the pastor case.

Andrew Brunson is an evangelical Christian pastor originally from North Carolina. He faces up to 35 years in prison in Turkey if convicted.

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11:37 a.m.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. will hit Turkey with "large sanctions" over a American pastor detained on terror and espionage charges, and he called for the pastor's immediate release.

Tweeting from aboard Air Force One, Trump said: "The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson, a great Christian, family man and wonderful human being." Trump said Brunson "is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!"

Just hours earlier, Vice President Mike Pence said that if Turkey does not take immediate action to free Brunson, "the United States of America will impose significant sanctions on Turkey." Pence spoke at the close of a three-day conference in Washington on religious freedom.

Brunson, 50, an evangelical Christian pastor originally from North Carolina, was let out of jail Wednesday, after 1 1/2 years, to serve house arrest because of "health problems," according to Turkey's official Anadolu news agency.

10:34 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence is threatening NATO ally Turkey with economic sanctions over a detained American pastor held on terror and espionage charges.

Pence said Thursday that if Turkey does not take immediate action to free Andrew Craig Brunson, "the United States of America will impose severe economic sanctions on Turkey." He spoke at the close of a three-day conference on religious freedom.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded Brunson's release and said on Twitter last week that the pastor's detention was "a total disgrace."

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