UN Security Council Condemns Syrian Attack on Turkey

Posted October 5th, 2012 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
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The U.N. Security Council has condemned a Syrian attack on a Turkish border town that killed five people earlier this week.

The Council, in a statement Thursday, said the incident “highlighted the grave impact the crisis in Syria has on the security of its neighbors and on regional peace and stability”. The 15-nation body called on the Syrian government to stop such violations of international law and to “fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of its neighbors.

Syrian troops had shelled a residential area of the Turkish town of Akcakale on Wednesday, killing two women and three children. Turkey, in retaliation, shelled Syrian targets and authorized military action beyond its borders if necessary. Turkish troops have been patroling the border area.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey has no intention of starting a war, but is determined to defend its borders and citizens.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all parties in the region to exercise “maximum restraint” and “exert all efforts to move toward a political solution.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that troops loyal to President Bashir al- Assad shelled the city of Homs killing four civilians. Separately, fighting between regime forces and rebels and anti government forces were also reported in Deir Izzor leaving two rebels dead. The observatory says on Thursday 180 people were killed across the country including 79 civilians, 45 rebel fighters, 4 defected soldiers and 48 regime forces.