THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Turkey will continue to accept the hundreds of Syrian refugees who are fleeing their nation’s violence, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.
About 450 refugees, including more than 30 people who were wounded in clashes, have arrived in Turkey, authorities said. The nations share an 850 kilometer (520-mile) border.
Mr Erdogan also urged Syria’s government to adopt reforms aimed at ending the unrest.
Most of the refugees are fleeing a tense northern town, Jisr al-Shughour, which is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Turkey.
The residents fear a crackdown by their government following a deadly mutiny of Syrian soldiers that set off fighting with officers and security guards. The Syrian government said 120 of its forces were dead and acknowledged losing “intermittent” control of the area.
Erdogan, whose government has close ties with Syrian leader Bashar Assad, said the situation in Syria is of deep concern for Turkey. » | Wednesday, June 08, 2011
