Turkey ready for ‘any scenario’ with Syria, including military intervention
Syrian protesters make their way down Edgeware Road to the Syrian Embassy on October 29, 2011 in London, England. Amnesty International activists and Syrians living in the UK are to hold a ‘No More Blood – No More Fear’ rally outside the Syrian embassy to call for an end to the government crackdown in Syria, which has killed at least 3,000 people.
If Syria does not stop its crackdown against protesters, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that Ankara will be ready for the possibility of military intervention.
"We hope that a military intervention will never be necessary,” Ahmet Davutoglu said in an interview with television broadcaster Kanal 24. "However, the Syrian regime has to find a way of making peace with its own people to eliminate this option. If the oppression continues, Turkey is ready for any scenario."
In another sign of Turkey’s disapproval of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdowns, Davutoglu said sanctions against the country will be announced after he meets with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul.
More from GlobalPost: Turkey to Syria: ‘No regime can survive by killing or jailing’
The international community has broadly condemned the regime-led brutality.
More from GlobalPost: EU to impose new sanctions, Jordan calls on Assad to resign
Diplomats and ambassadors to Syria from multiple countries have evacuated the country due to violence. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have urged its citizens to leave Syria for similar reasons.
With the EU and US already imposing recent sanctions, the Arab League’s newly approved sanctions against Damascus amount to what Syria’s foreign minister said is “a declaration of economic war.”
More from GlobalPost: Arab League proposes sanctions against Syria
Ankara has increased its criticism against the Syria’s crackdowns after Turkish diplomatic missions were attacked by pro-Assad sympathizers in November.
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