Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Syria crisis: Erdogan steps up Turkey pressure on Assad

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of his AK Party at the parliament in Ankara, 15 November. Mr Erdogan has become increasingly critical of Syria in recent months

Turkey has stepped up its pressure on neighbouring Syria over the crackdown on protests by the Damascus government.

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the future could not be built on "the blood of the oppressed", and condemned attacks on Turkish missions in Syria.

Meanwhile, Turkey's energy minister announced that joint oil exploration projects with Syria had been halted.

Damascus is also facing increasing pressure from the Arab League, which has suspended its membership.

On Monday, King Abdullah of Jordan became the first Arab leader to openly urge Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand down.

The UN says more than 3,500 people have died since the start of the protests against President Assad in March.

The Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs and militants.

In an apparent show of goodwill on Tuesday, the authorities freed 1,180 people who had been arrested during protests, Syrian state media reported. The state news agency said those released had no "blood on their hands".

The release of prisoners is among the demands of the Arab League, which is due to meet again on Wednesday.

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