Syrian envoy in Turkey for crisis talks

A Syrian envoy was due in Turkey on Wednesday for crisis talks with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, days after the Turkish leader described the Syrian government’s repression of protests as “savagery”.

A Syrian envoy was due in Turkey on Wednesday for crisis talks with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, days after the Turkish leader described the Syrian government’s repression of protests as “savagery”.

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The once-close relationship between the neighbours appears close to breaking point as thousands of Syrians have fled to Turkey to escape a fierce crackdown by President Bashar al-Assad’s security forces.

State-run Anatolian news agency said Assad’s envoy, Hassan Turkmani, was due to arrive in Ankara, where he will face Turkish impatience over Syria’s repressive tactics and anger over a burgeoning humanitarian crisis. Assad on Tuesday called Erdogan to congratulate him on winning a third term in office.

Erdogan, who had a close rapport with Assad, had said before his re-election that, once the election was over, he would be talking to Assad in a “very different manner”, and expressed revulsion over repression being used against the Syrian people.