US calls on Russia, Turkey to avoid 'escalation' over Syria
The United States has called on Turkey and Russia to avoid any further escalation over the Syrian crisis after the two countries traded accusations.
"It is important that the Russians and Turks speak directly, and take measures to prevent escalation," a State Department spokesperson told AFP on Monday.
Russia has been conducting airstrikes on Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria since September last year.
The Russian bombing campaign has turned the tables in favor of the government of President Bashar al-Assad whom Turkey opposes.
Turkey along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the US and some European states have been sponsoring terrorists in Syria to oust Assad since 2011.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday accused Russia of acting like a "terrorist organization" in Syria, and vowed to deliver a robust response.
He also blamed Moscow of exacerbating the refugee crisis on Turkey's borders through its "barbaric attacks on civilians" in Syria.
Russia said on Monday Turkey helps new militants illegally enter Syria and join the ranks of the battle-drained terrorist groups already fighting the Assad government there.
“Moscow expresses its most serious concern about the aggressive actions by the Turkish authorities regarding the neighboring state,” Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement also blasted Turkey’s shelling of the positions of Kurdish and Syrian forces in the north of the Arab country, calling it a “provocative” act.
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