Turkish FM rejects criticisms over worsening relations with Syria

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish foreign minister has defied accusations over Turkey's strained relations with Syria over the Syrian government's failure to end a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests. "I really feel ashamed for those who'd say 'and one morning we woke up and see that we are enemies with Syria' as if they were unaware of of the people who have died in the last ten months," Ahmet Davutoglu told a gathering of Turkish ambassadors in the Turkish capital, Ankara.  Davutoglu said Turkey would always stand by brother nations who rose for basic rights and freedoms which he said Turkey saw fit for its own people.   "[Syrian President Bashar] Al Assad had failed to listen to our advice. They have leveled Hama in the Holy month of Ramadan, they have destroyed mosques in Deir Ez-Zor, and shelled Palestinian refugee camps in Latakia. We did not remain silent when cruelty swept Bosnia, we did not remain silent before the Israeli oppression in Gaza. And would we remain silent in the face of the Syrian regime just because we had friendly relations," Davutoglu said.