Turkey says world must support Syrian people

The international community must send a strong message of support to the Syrian people and send aid to residents of the city of Homs, under artillery attack by the Syrian military, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Reuters.   

He said Turkey was ready to host an international conference to support the Syrian people, and to send a message to President Bashar al-Assad to halt an 11-month crackdown on his opponents.   

Davutoglu said that if the U.N. Security Council fails to protect civilians, then like-minded countries should find ways to end the killing and deliver aid to civilians trapped by military assault, especially those in Homs.   

"We definitely want to have this meeting in our region showing concerns and the sensitivities and solidarity and regional ownership, maybe in Turkey, maybe in another country," Davutoglu said in an interview shortly before he was due to leave for the United States for talks on Syria.  

"It is not enough being an observer. It is time now to send a strong message to the Syrian people that we are with them".

Reuters