Erdogan ‘explains’ remark about toppling Assad to Putin

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – OCTOBER 10: President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and President of Russia Vladimir Putin (L) shake hands during a press conference following their meeting at Mabeyn Palace in Istanbul, Turkey on October 10, 2016. ( Metin Pala – Anadolu Agency )

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “explained” his comments about a plan to topple Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Russian news agency RIA reported, citing Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.

Earlier this week, Erdogan said his forces were in Syria “to bring justice. We are there to end the rule of the cruel Assad, who has been spreading state terror.” The statement came as a surprise to Moscow.

Russia, one of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s main backers alongside Iran, expressed strong reservations about Erdogan’s statements. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Erdogan’s comments as “extremely dangerous”.

No details were given about what the explanation Erdogan provided was

Late yesterday, the Kremlin said Putin and Erdogan spoke on the phone and discussed issues relating to Syria, particularly the city of Aleppo.

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