Turkish PM: Syria plane was carrying Russian-made munitions

Erdogan insists Syrian airliner forces to land in Ankara Wednesday was carrying weapons; Damascus says cargo was 'legitimate'

Reuters פורסם: 11.10.12, 19:12

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the Syrian passenger plane forced to land in Ankara on Wednesday was carrying Russian-made munitions destined for Syria's Defense Ministry.

Turkish authorities ordered the Syrian Air passenger plane, which was travelling from Moscow to Damascus, to land in the capital's Esenboga Airport after receiving an intelligence tip-off and seized some of its cargo.

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The Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported Thursday that the information came from US intelligence agencies.

Turkish media reported Wednesday that the equipment found on the plane included weapons, missile part and "military communication devices and components that could be used for missiles."

Video: Reuters (צילום: רויטרס)

Ankara's authorities reportedly seized everything.

Syria said Thursday that the plane was carrying legitimate cargo: "The plane was not carrying any illegal material," Ghaida Abdulatif, head of Syrian Arab Airlines, said.

"When the plane was inspected it was clear that there were… civilian packages with electrical equipment which are allowed to be transported and had been officially registered."

The state news agency SANA also quoted Abdulatif as saying Turkish authorities "assaulted the plane's crew before it was allowed to take off", without giving details.