Erdogan Warns Assad ‘Your Days are Numbered’
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Syrian President Bashar Assad Monday that his days as leader were numbered and he cannot remain in power indefinitely through military force.
After reports that two buses carrying Turkish pilgrims came under attack in Syria, Erdogan said his one-time ally's defiant refusal to end a bloody crackdown on protesters had increased the prospects of foreign intervention.
"You can remain in power with tanks and cannons only up to a certain point. The day will come when you'll also leave," Erdogan told a meeting in Istanbul.
"Someone shows up and says 'I'll fight and die. Against whom will you fight? Will you fight against your Muslim brothers you rule in your country?" said Erdogan.
The prime minister was referring to an interview with Assad published in London's Sunday Times in which the Syrian leader vowed to fight and die for if faced with foreign intervention.
"Why do you open the way for an outside interference?" asked Erdogan. "Why don't you handle your own problem within yourself, without opening the way for any outside interference?"
Erdogan also denounced the use of military force "against those in Syria who demand a decent life".
Turkey, once a close ally of Syria, has become increasingly outspoken in its criticism of Assad's regime as the death toll from the increasingly bloody crackdown on protests has risen to more than 3,500.
Ankara last week announced a halt to joint oil exploration with Syria and has threatened to cut electricity exports there.
over 12 years
naharnet - i'm still trying to find where exactly erdogan said his 'days are numbered'. did i miss something or is this your usual practice of stretching someone's words.
over 12 years
The only way for foreign intervention to succeed in Syria, is to be done through Turkey. The latter will act abd intervene, and the the rest of the west/arab nations will support financially and logisticaly. Turkey will take a big role in Syria once Assad is removed. I totally agree that the days of Assad as a leader are numbered.
over 12 years
Nice picture. It reeks of douche.
over 12 years
"...Against whom will you fight? Will you fight against your Muslim brothers you rule in your country?" said Erdogan...."
Is ONLY fighting against Muslim brothers wrong? It is alarming how Muslims, by stating the incorrectness of killing their fellow Muslims, do seem to insinuate that killing those who are not Muslims is not objectionable!
The Syrian regime is repressing its own people , regardless of their religion they should be delivered from the fangs of the beast.
over 12 years
This is sad. Turkey is being opportunistic, and Syria is being...Syria. I'm watching this from Lebanon wondering how many refugees we're going to get when civil war starts in earnest.
over 12 years
My Dear Youssef you have made the important point. Is there any doubt about what is going on?
Syria occupied Lebanon and killed people for 30 years, but Turkey occupied our country for many centuries and killed far more people.
We should not forget the past, but we should stop wishing ill to our neighbours.
I hope peace can come to Syria by some miracle, and I sure hope Lebanon can stay out of the fight (and we can control this, we do not need a miracle to do it). We paid enough
over 12 years
The racist white man ...the American "youssef Haddad" is giving a lecture about tolerance. Who did the White man colonize other than people of color?. Since the end of WWII, (which was a battle between imperialists to dominate the world) which country has the KKKUSA invaded that was not persons of color?
Also, I love how Naharnet misrepresent quotes in their headlines. There is a big diferrence between "one day" and "your days are numbered".
over 12 years
Also is it ONLY wrong when a leader oppresses his people? How about invading and Occupying and colonizing OTHER people. That does not bother the racist white man.
over 12 years
Assad syria deserves this and more. Pay back for all evil done to Lebanon.
over 12 years
Quick Quomarade Qawmi John defend the Assad al bassel like you did when the older Assad al bassel shelled Achrafieh, Saida, Tripoly, Shouf Baadba
Oh there you are thank God I thought you were out sick.
over 12 years
@typical idiot look
AFP
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gFNi1TxQ58uKFWoKT64CG-3tywMg?docId=CNG.11f87c4948d97b8d7bbf830f56f4527c.141
over 12 years
God bless the stupid white man my comrade Qawmi john I agree with every word he writes
invading and Occupying and colonizing OTHER people is bad
unless you are the Syrian regime then it OK, to be fair to the brave president Assad Lebanon was created by the colonizing white man and is not a real country
or a Muslim colonist speeding the faith by the sword including all over the black, brown and yellow man remember my stupid white friend the Arabs started the slave industry as such in Africa.
but hey that goes against our narrow minded idiotic ideology so forget about it
over 12 years
John from Koura in Down under talk the talk but doesn't mind using the fruit of the white man's oppression of the Australian Aborigines hypocrite.
over 12 years
Mate John from Koura in down under talk the talk but doesn't mind using the fruit of the racist white man's oppression of the Australian Aborigines, hypocrite.
over 12 years
i better get my sweets ready to hand out....Civil war is upon Syria Praise be to God.
over 12 years
to the idiot mansour...If a civil war breaks out in Syria (which will not happen) Lebanon will not be sparred. You should learn your history. Everyone in Lebanon hates everyone else.
over 12 years
Guys, some comments above.....!!!
racism to the extreme....
no it is never good to have a civil war anywhere, and we should know enough about that subject, not to wish it for anyone else.
whatever is ging on in Syria is killing innocent people and children, which is not good.
but that is all the doing of this same regime that harmed us....
it is a pitty some so called Lebanese support such a murderous regime....
What hypocracy!!! erdogan was best buddies with assad when he had a tight grip on power. Erdogan knew very well how oppressive the syrian regime was.. now, only now he is vocal about assad's regime? What is his agenda?
The whole Syria debacle reeks of nausiating odors..