Turkey slams Syria over crackdown
Amateur video out of Syria shows demonstrators back on the streets calling for the end of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The video, which could not be independently verified by Reuters comes as Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Ergogan warns Assad that legitimacy can only come from elections.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan saying (Turkish):
"If you believe in yourself, if you are confident as a leader, you would call for elections, everybody would go to polls and if those ballot boxes take you to power, than you will come to power and rule that country. But you can remain in power with tanks and cannons only up to a certain point. The day will come when you will also leave."
Two Turkish citizens were wounded Monday when gunmen opened fire on a convoy of Turkish buses carrying pilgrims in northern Syria.
Turkish media reported that that the driver of a bus and a pilgrim were wounded in the attack at a checkpoint just across the Syrian border.
Turkey is considering imposing economic sanctions on Assad's government, and officials have said there are contingency plans for the Turkish military to establish a buffer or no-fly zone inside Syrian territory to protect civilians there from Assad's security forces.
The crackdown in Syria, which shares a border with Turkey has caused strains between the allies.
Assad faces street demonstrations, increasing armed opposition, deepening international isolation and an economic crisis triggered by the unrest and aggravated by Western sanctions.
Assad has promised a parliamentary election early next year, followed by a new constitution.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
The video, which could not be independently verified by Reuters comes as Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Ergogan warns Assad that legitimacy can only come from elections.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan saying (Turkish):
"If you believe in yourself, if you are confident as a leader, you would call for elections, everybody would go to polls and if those ballot boxes take you to power, than you will come to power and rule that country. But you can remain in power with tanks and cannons only up to a certain point. The day will come when you will also leave."
Two Turkish citizens were wounded Monday when gunmen opened fire on a convoy of Turkish buses carrying pilgrims in northern Syria.
Turkish media reported that that the driver of a bus and a pilgrim were wounded in the attack at a checkpoint just across the Syrian border.
Turkey is considering imposing economic sanctions on Assad's government, and officials have said there are contingency plans for the Turkish military to establish a buffer or no-fly zone inside Syrian territory to protect civilians there from Assad's security forces.
The crackdown in Syria, which shares a border with Turkey has caused strains between the allies.
Assad faces street demonstrations, increasing armed opposition, deepening international isolation and an economic crisis triggered by the unrest and aggravated by Western sanctions.
Assad has promised a parliamentary election early next year, followed by a new constitution.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters