Turkey has warned Russia that it must immediately stop bombing "civilian Turkmen villages" in Syria, close to the Turkish border.
The Russian ambassador to Ankara was summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry to hear the protest. Turkey warned that bombing villages populated by the Turkmen minority could lead to "serious consequences".
Syrian government forces backed by Russian aircraft launched a ground offensive on the mainly Turkmen villages in Bayir Bucak, north-west Latakia province, on Thursday, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.
The Turkish government is vehemently opposed to President Assad, while Russia says its air campaign is justified because Mr Assad has requested it. |