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Turkey warns Syria to stop military operations

16 August 2011 08:18 (UTC +04:00)

â€œThis is our final word to the Syrian authorities: Our first expectation is that these operations stop immediately and unconditionally,â€ Mr. Davutoglu said at a news conference in Ankara. â€œIf the operations do not end, there would be nothing more to discuss about steps that would be taken,â€ he said. The latest developments in Syria were discussed during the Turkeyâ€™s cabinet meeting under the Prime Minister Erdoganâ€™s chairmanship. Davutogluâ€™s visit to Damascus and escalation of violence in Syria were in the focus of attention during the meeting.
The Syrian government sent its military and security forces into the port of Latakia, where a Western official said security forces used antiaircraft guns against civilian buildings. Activists said, as well as gunfire that originated from ships off the coast. The Syrian government has denied that ships fired at Latakia. Activists say 31 people have been killed since the beginning of the Latakia assault.