Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had not given him "a negative answer" when he urged him to listen to his people in two telephone calls over the last three days.
"We advised Mr. Assad that responding to people's years-old demands positively with a reformist approach would help Syria to overcome the problems more easily," Erdogan told journalists before leaving Ankara for a visit to Iraq.
Erdogan said he had suggested to Assad that he meet some of the demands of thousands of people who have taken part in pro-democracy demonstrations across Syria.
"He said they were working on lifting the state of emergency to meet demands. They told us they were working on political parties ... we hope these measures are actually implemented rather than remaining promises," Erdogan said.
"We did not receive a negative answer when we urged Mr. Assad to listen to the voice of people. I hope he makes the announcement today or tomorrow."
Dozens of people have been killed in the demonstrations, which have presented Assad with the gravest crisis in his 11-year rule. On Saturday, he deployed the army for the first time in the port of Latakia.
Erdogan said the chief of the National Intelligence Agency of Turkey (MIT) visited Syria Sunday for talks, and that Turkey was closely watching developments in the country
Turkish officials have been guarded in commenting on events in Syria. Relations between the two countries have improved since Erdogan's AK Party came to power, while Turkey's old friendship with Israel has soured.
"It is impossible for us to remain silent in the face of these events, we have a 800 km (500 miles) long border with Syria," Erdogan said.
Turkey's ruling AK party has implemented a reform program since coming to power almost a decade ago to try to strengthen democracy and modernize the economy.
Syria has been shaken by two weeks of anti-regime protests, forcing Syrian authorities to announce said Sunday they would end decades of emergency rule in the country.
The lifting of the country's emergency law would end draconian conditions in place since the Baath party came to power in March 1963.
Responsible for aid to Libya
Asked about operations in Libya, to be taken over by NATO, Erdogan said Turkey had agreed to take responsibility for humanitarian aid distribution at the airport in the rebel stronghold Benghazi and Turkish naval forces would help control the corridor between Crete and Benghazi.
"We have not been the country who is dropping bombs or firing bullets, and nor will we be," he said.
Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu are expected to attend an international meeting in London on Tuesday to discuss the Libya operation and the country's future.
Erdogan, who is expected to win a third term in office in an election in June, told Britain's Guardian newspaper in a report published on Sunday that Turkey was prepared to act as mediator to broker an early ceasefire in Libya and he said any drawn-out conflict risked turning Libya into a second Iraq.
ANKARA (Agencies)
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had not given him "a negative answer" when he urged him to listen to his people in two telephone calls over the last three days.
"We advised Mr. Assad that responding to people's years-old demands positively with a reformist approach would help Syria to overcome the problems more easily," Erdogan told journalists before leaving Ankara for a visit to Iraq.
Erdogan said he had suggested to Assad that he meet some of the demands of thousands of people who have taken part in pro-democracy demonstrations across Syria.
"He said they were working on lifting the state of emergency to meet demands. They told us they were working on political parties ... we hope these measures are actually implemented rather than remaining promises," Erdogan said.
"We did not receive a negative answer when we urged Mr. Assad to listen to the voice of people. I hope he makes the announcement today or tomorrow."
Dozens of people have been killed in the demonstrations, which have presented Assad with the gravest crisis in his 11-year rule. On Saturday, he deployed the army for the first time in the port of Latakia.
Erdogan said the chief of the National Intelligence Agency of Turkey (MIT) visited Syria Sunday for talks, and that Turkey was closely watching developments in the country
Turkish officials have been guarded in commenting on events in Syria. Relations between the two countries have improved since Erdogan's AK Party came to power, while Turkey's old friendship with Israel has soured.
"It is impossible for us to remain silent in the face of these events, we have a 800 km (500 miles) long border with Syria," Erdogan said.
Turkey's ruling AK party has implemented a reform program since coming to power almost a decade ago to try to strengthen democracy and modernize the economy.
Syria has been shaken by two weeks of anti-regime protests, forcing Syrian authorities to announce said Sunday they would end decades of emergency rule in the country.
The lifting of the country's emergency law would end draconian conditions in place since the Baath party came to power in March 1963.
Responsible for aid to Libya
Asked about operations in Libya, to be taken over by NATO, Erdogan said Turkey had agreed to take responsibility for humanitarian aid distribution at the airport in the rebel stronghold Benghazi and Turkish naval forces would help control the corridor between Crete and Benghazi.
"We have not been the country who is dropping bombs or firing bullets, and nor will we be," he said.
Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu are expected to attend an international meeting in London on Tuesday to discuss the Libya operation and the country's future.
Erdogan, who is expected to win a third term in office in an election in June, told Britain's Guardian newspaper in a report published on Sunday that Turkey was prepared to act as mediator to broker an early ceasefire in Libya and he said any drawn-out conflict risked turning Libya into a second Iraq.
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