Erdogan calls on Russia to stop protecting Assad
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on Russia to revise its entire policy on Syria and to stop supporting Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Erdoğan made a statement to this effect while commenting on the US missile strike on the Syrian airbase in response to the chemical attack in Idlib, Anadolu news agency reports.
“It is our hope that this will not be limited to the US action. We hope that Russia gets involved as well, that at least they stop protecting Bashar al-Assad,” Erdoğan said.
“Let’s get rid of this evil,” the Turkish president added.
Previously Turkey suggested that Syrian rule be transferred to a temporary government and said that it was prepared to make a contribution to the restoration of the country.
Dozens of people died on Tuesday as the result of the bombing of the Syrian city of Khan Shaykhun in the Idlib province. Many of those affected showed sign of severe poisoning – people died from asphyxiation, and many lay on the ground without moving. More than 100 peaceful civilians died, and more than 500 others, mainly children, were affected.
In Turkey an autopsy was performed on residents of the Syrian Idlib province killed in the recent bombing, which showed that chemical weapons had been used on them. According to the Turkish Health Ministry, sarin nerve gas was used in the attack.