Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to expel the ambassadors of 10 countries, including France, Germany and the United States, after a call for the release of opposition figure Osman Kavala by these countries, Turkish media reported Thursday.

"I informed our Ministry of Foreign Affairs that we cannot allow ourselves to receive them in our country. Is it your duty to teach Turkey a lesson?" Erdogan said, according to statements carried by several Turkish media.

In a statement issued Monday evening, ten Western countries called for a "fair and speedy settlement of the case" of Osman Kavala, a Turkish businessman and activist who has been on trial for four years.