Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he was forced to put a tough fight against the "powerful nations of the world" who opposed his campaign for a yes vote in a referendum to expand the powers of his office.
Addressing supporters at Ankara airport Monday on his arrival from Istanbul, Erdogan said he was "attacked" by nations with the "crusader mentality" as well as by their supporters inside Turkey.
It was not clear if he was aiming at European nations, including Germany and the Netherlands, where authorities restricted government ministers' plans to hold campaign rallies to court Turkish expatriate votes.
Erdogan said: "We did not give in, we did not give up. As a nation we stood strong."
Short link: