Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Turkey Calls for World Powers to Impose No-Fly Zone in Syria

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Turkey called on the international community Friday to
   impose a no-fly zone in Syria to protect hundreds of thousands of
   civilians from airstrikes by government forces in the Idlib region.

   Fahrettin Altun, communications director at the Turkish presidency,
   said via Twitter, that Russia and Iran, the backers of Syrian President
   Bashar al-Assad, "will lose all their credibility if they fail on their
   commitment to reduce violence and hostilities in Idlib.

   "Millions of civilians are being bombarded by air for months now.
   Infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, is being targeted by
   the regime systematically. A genocide is happening slowly before our
   eyes. Those with conscious and dignity must speak up," Altun said.

   The Syrian regime has been "pursuing demographic and ethnic cleansing
   in this region," Altun said. "We cannot look the other way!"

.