ANKARA (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday (April 4) rejected "lessons in democracy" from the West, with US and EU criticism mounting over an alleged clampdown on press freedoms in his country.

"Those who attempt to give us lessons in democracy and human rights must first contemplate their own shame," said Erdogan, after US President Barack Obama said eroding press freedoms in Turkey were "troubling" as two top journalists were put on trial for allegedly revealing state secrets.