Nato said it would meet to discuss member state Turkey’s accusation that Syria shot down one of its warplanes in international airspace and not inside its own territory, as Damascus claims. 

Nato said it would hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday following a request from Turkey that invoked Article Four of the alliance’s founding treaty, which covers threats to member states’ security. 

Turkey has already acknowledged that its fighter jet might at some point have entered Syrian airspace. But after an initially cautious response, Ankara toughened its rhetoric on Sunday. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Turkey’s TRT television that at the time it was shot down, their plane was in international airspace, 13 nautical miles from Syria. 

Syria had given no warning before opening fire, he added.
The fighter had been on an unarmed training mission to carry out a radar system test, and both pilots are still missing. 

“The Syrians knew full well that it was a Turkish military plane and the nature of its mission,” said Davutoglu.
“Nobody should dare put Turkey’s (military) capabilities to the test,” he warned. 

“We will bring this affair before public opinion and international law in the name of Turkey’s honour.” Syria has acknowledged shooting down the F-4 phantom jet after it violated its airspace, but insists it only identified it as a Turkish fighter after the fact. 

“What happened was an accident and not an assault as some like to say,” Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi told the Al-Watan pro-government daily on Sunday. 

But UN Security Council member Britain warned that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime “should not make the mistake of believing that it can act with impunity.””It will be held to account for its behaviour,” Foreign Secretary William Hague said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised US assistance in investigating the incident. 

“It is yet another reflection of the Syrian authorities’ callous disregard for international norms, human life, and peace and security,” Clinton said in a statement. 

Italy, another Nato member, also condemned Syria over the incident and Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said they would “actively participate” in the Nato meeting. 

In his comments to Al-Watan Sunday, foreign ministry spokesman Makdissi tried to pour oil on the troubled waters.
“Syria was merely exercising its right and sovereign duty and defence,” he said. 

“There is no enmity between Syria and Turkey, but political tension (exists) between the two countries.

Already Saturday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon had expressed his “deep concern”about the incident, particularly about the “potential serious implications” for the region, spokesman Martin Nesirky said.  (AFP)