Turkey detains Syrian passenger plane

(Vatican Radio) Turkey scrambled fighters and briefly detained a Syrian passenger plane yesterday, suspecting it of carrying military equipment from Moscow. The plane was on route to Damascus with 30 passengers on board when Turkish military fighter jets forced it to land at Ankara airport.

Turkish authorities said they seized some of the cargo from the Airbus A320 ,
but declined to say what it was.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu speaking on Turkish television said the government had received information on the cargo being transported.

"Today we received information this plane was carrying cargo of a nature that could not possibly be in compliance with the rules of civil aviation,"

As the plane later left the Turkish capital the Minister warned they would continue to be vigilant.

"We are determined to control weapons transfers to a regime that carries out such brutal massacres against civilians. It is unacceptable that such a transfer is made using our airspace,"

As fighting continues in Syria, Turkey has been responding to gunfire and shelling coming across from northern Syria.

Turkey's armed forces have strengthening their presence along the border and Turkey's military chief says three will be a more forceful response if shelling continues to spill over. Listen to Lydia O'Kane's report