Russia-Syria plane carried 'ammunition' - Turkey PM [View all]

[pampango]

Source: BBC

A Syrian-bound plane intercepted by Turkey was carrying Russian-made defence equipment destined for Syria's defence ministry, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

"Passenger aircraft can't carry ammunition and defence equipment," Mr Erdogan said, adding, "unfortunately there was such equipment on board".

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said "equipment and ammunition shipped to the Syrian defence ministry" had been recovered from the plane and was being examined. He said "the necessary will follow," Associated Press reports, without giving further details.

The BBC's James Reynolds, on the Syrian border in southern Turkey, says that despite taking opposite views on Assad, Ankara and Moscow have continued to have a close relationship and do business together.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19912534

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None of us know what was or wasn't on that plane, but it is interesting that the Turkish prime minister made this statement. It would have been easier to walk it back later if the foreign minister or some lower level government spokesperson had made the statement.

Turkey and Russia may "have continued to have a close relationship and do business together" up until now but I doubt that Putin will take kindly to this Turkish action and the statement of the prime minister. Something tells me that the 'close relationship' between Turkey and Russia is about to change. Turkey must have known this when they forced that plane to land.