Turkey's president said the country may hold a Brexit-like referendum on pursuing European Union membership.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking on Saturday at a Turkish-UK forum in the southern city of Antalya.

He made the proposal as tensions continue to escalate between Ankara and European governments ahead of an April 16 referendum to expand the powers of the Turkish presidency.

Bringing up Brexit - the British departure from the EU - Erdogan said a similar referendum "might" be held after the April 16 vote, adding that he would respect whatever the people decided.

At a rally earlier on Saturday, Erdogan lashed out those who claimed Turkey would not be let into the EU if the referendum passed.

He said: "Turkey is no one's whipping boy."