LOC21:35
18:35 GMT
ANKARA, June 22 (KUNA) -- Turkey Friday termed as "not true and groundless"
news reports that it was supplying the Syrian opposition with arms.
"Turkey did not send any weapons to any neighboring country including
Syria, nor did it provide the Syrian opposition with weapons," foreign
ministry spokesperson Selcuk Unal told a weekly press briefing.
He described reports by western media suggesting that Turkey provided arms
for the Syrian opposition as "groundless and are not based on confirmed
sources."
Turkey, added Unal, believed the appropriate solution for the Syrian
conflict was to continue diplomatic pressure upon the ruling regime to stop
violence.
Unal hoped international efforts would result in cessation of bloodshed in
Syria which has been ongoing for over a year.
US New York Times reported this week that Turkey and two Gulf countries
provided arms for the Syrian free army. The arms supply, it added, was
supervised by the CIA.
New York Times said Syrian opposition, in the Turkish terrotiries, elements
got machineguns, rocket launchers, hand grenades and ammunition. It added that
some of the weapons were taken to Syria. (end)
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