News.Az - Turkish PM urges Syrian leader to end violence

News.Az - Turkish PM urges Syrian leader to end violence

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Turkish PM urges Syrian leader to end violence

Wed 15 June 2011 05:33 GMT | -1:33 Local Time
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has telephoned the Turkish prime minister, as over 8,500 refugees flee Syria for Turkey.

Officials said on Tuesday that al-Assad called Erdogan to congratulate him on his Justice and Development (AK) Party's victory in the parliamentary elections in Turkey on Sunday.

Erdogan and al-Assad also discussed developments in Syria, with Erdogan quoted as telling al-Assad that violence must end.

Erdogan also said that a timetable must be drawn up for reforms, which should be implemented urgently in Syria.

Premier Erdogan and al-Assad also discussed the influx of Syrian people to Turkey as well as demonstrations outside the Turkish embassy in Damascus and consulate general in Aleppo.

Border tension

Tension persists along the Turkey-Syria border after 120 security guards were killed by armed gangs in Jisr al-Shughur town.

Driven by the fear of retaliation, Syrian refugees walked over to the border gates in Hatay’s Yayladagi and Altinozu districts. The number of Syrians who fled across the border into Turkey has risen to 8,538.

Teams in Yayladagi district are setting up a second tent city for refugees with a capacity of 2,500 people.

Syrians are accommodated in depots and tents belonging to a Turkish tobacco company, named TEKEL, and are allowed to meet their relatives.

Four tent hospitals installed by the Health Ministry in Yayladagi offer services to Syrian refugees. A newly installed 5,000-capacity camp in Boynuyogun village of Altinozu district is already full to the brim.

Turkish officials fear that the wave of refugees might rise, should the Syrian incidents become more violent.

TRT, Anatolia