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Russia-Syria plane carried 'ammunition' - Turkey PM | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Syrian-bound plane intercepted by Turkey was carrying Russian-made defence equipment destined for Syria's defence ministry, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. | |
"Passenger aircraft cannot 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. | Turkish jets forced the plane, coming from Moscow, to land in Ankara. |
Syria and Russia have denied the plane was carrying illegal cargo. | |
They have accused Turkey of putting lives in danger. | 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: "This was equipment and ammunition that was being sent from a Russian agency... to the Syrian Defence Ministry." | |
"Their examination is continuing and the necessary will follow," he added. | |
He said the supplier was the equivalent of Turkey's state-run arms supplier, the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation. | |
Russia's state arms export agency 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. | |
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. |
Damaged ties | |
Since the uprising against Syria President Bashar al-Assad began last year, Russia has repeatedly refused to abandon its support for Damascus, while Turkey has been a vocal critic of the Assad government. | |
The BBC's James Reynolds, on the Syrian border in southern Turkey, says that despite taking opposite views, Ankara and Moscow have maintained a close relationship and do business together. | |
This incident could be the biggest test of their ties since the conflict broke out, he adds. | |
Tensions were already high between Turkey and Syria, following the deaths of five Turkish civilians by shelling from across the border last week. | |
Turkey has returned fire, and on Wednesday its top military commander warned Ankara would respond with greater force if the shelling continued. |