SYRIAN MINISTER ACCUSES TURKEY OF "AIR PIRACY"

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 11, 2012 - 14:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria said on Thursday, Oct 11, a Damascus-bound
plane forced to land in Ankara by Turkish fighter jets while en route
from Moscow had been carrying legitimate cargo, according to Reuters.

"The plane was not carrying any illegal material," Ghaida Abdulatif,
head of Syrian Arab Airlines, told reporters in Damascus. "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."

Meanwhile, Syria's transport minister accused Turkey of "air piracy."

Lebanon's al-Manar Television quoted minister Mahmoud Said as saying
the move amounted to "air piracy which contradicts civil aviation
treaties."

Turkish officials said they suspected the plane was carrying military
equipment, and seized some of the cargo.