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Syria-Moscow plane had 'munitions' - Turkey PM | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Syrian-bound plane intercepted by Turkey was carrying Russian-made defence equipment destined for Syria's defence ministry, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. | |
"Passenger aircraft can't carry ammunition, and defence equipment," Mr Erdogan said, adding, "unfortunately there was such equipment on board". | |
Turkish jets forced the plane, coming from Moscow, to land in Ankara. | |
Syria and Russia have denied allegations of an illegal cargo. | |
They have accused Turkey of putting lives in danger. | |
The Syrian Air Airbus A320, with about 30 passengers on board, was intercepted on Wednesday evening by two Turkish fighters and escorted to the capital's Esenboga airport. | The Syrian Air Airbus A320, with about 30 passengers on board, was intercepted on Wednesday evening by two Turkish fighters and escorted to the capital's Esenboga airport. |
Turkey said previously it had received an intelligence tip-off that it had illegal cargo on board. | Turkey said previously it had received an intelligence tip-off that it had illegal cargo on board. |
Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said "equipment and ammunition shipped to the Syrian defense ministry" had been recovered from the plane and was being examined. | |
He said "the necessary will follow," Associated Press reports. | |
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey is determined to stop any transfer of weapons to Syria through its airspace. | Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey is determined to stop any transfer of weapons to Syria through its airspace. |
Russia's state arms supplier Rosoboronexport had earlier said it had no information about the plane's cargo and denied it had any connection with the flight or anything on board. |