Following reported shelling, Ban encourages Turkey to keep open communication channels with Syria

October 04, 2012: In an exchange with Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoðlu, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed his condolences at the “tragic loss of life” caused in a shelling incident reportedly involving Syria, according to the UN chief’s spokesperson.
At least three people, including a child, were killed and nine others seriously wounded after mortar fire from Syria hit the town of Akcakale in Turkey’s Sanliurfa province, various news outlets reported earlier on Wednesday.
In the call, initiated by the Turkish official, the spokesperson added, Mr. Ban encouraged the Foreign Minister to keep open all channels of communication with the Syrian authorities with a view to lessening any tension that could build up as a result of the incident.
The spokesperson noted that the Foreign Minister had also spoken earlier to the Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, Lakhdar Brahimi.
More than 18,000 people, mostly civilians, have died since the uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began last year. A further 2.5 million Syrians urgently need humanitarian aid, according to UN estimates.