Turkey on Nov 14 said it will take a “decisive attitude” over attacks on its diplomatic missions in Syria and will continue to support protesters seeking democratic reforms in the face of a government crackdown. Turkey has formally protested the weekend attacks on its embassy in Damascus and consulates in the cities of Aleppo and Latakia, evacuated families of diplomats and nonessential staff and issued a warning to Turks against travelling to Syria. “We will take a decisive attitude in the face of these attacks,” Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said. “And we will continue to take our place at the side of the Syrian people’s rightful struggle.”
Supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad on Nov 12 tried to break into the Turkish Embassy and the consulates to denounce an Arab League decision to suspend Syria’s membership over its crackdown on the eight-month uprising. Turkey is not a member of the League, but welcomed the decision.
After the attacks, Turkey summoned Syria’s charge d’affaires and issued a protest note demanding protection for its diplomatic missions. Turkey also demanded that the assailants be identified and brought to justice. Turkey separately renewed its call on Syrian leaders to end the crackdown, which the UN estimates has killed more than 3,500 people since mid-March, saying “no administration can come out victorious from any struggle against its own people.”