Syria is headed into civil war warns Turkey

10/01/12 06:04 CET

world news

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Turkey’s premier has give his starkest warning yet over the violent uprisings in neighbouring Syria. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country is spiralling into civil war.

Ankara is fearful the fighting there could escalate into a broader regional conflict.

“The situation in Syria is heading towards a religious, sectarian and racial war and this needs to be prevented,” Erdogan told a press conference.

“Turkey has to take on a leadership role because a sectarian war in that country could cause a problem for Turkey as well. The current situation poses a major threat to our security.”

Meanwhile in the Syrian city of Homs the latest unverified amateur video shows what appears to be protesters being fired on as they escort a car carrying Arab League monitors.

State media says Syria’s president will make a speech on what it called “the internal issue and international developments” later today.

More about: Bashar al-Assad, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Syria, Syrian politics, Unrest in the Arab world

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