ANKARA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish government presented a motion to parliament Thursday to seek approval for sending troops abroad, amid tensions with neighboring Syria.
"Ongoing crisis in Syria affects the stability and security in the region and now the escalating negativeness affects our national security," said the "Prime Ministry Motion," signed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"Syrian armed forces have been holding assailant acts under the name of military operations into Turkish land despite our several warnings and diplomatic attempts since September 20, 2012," the motion said.
It added, "this situation risks and threatens our national security. In this respect, the need of taking precautions and acting quickly against any threats to Turkey has arisen. In the framework of the situation, according to Article 92 of the Turkish Constitution, we kindly ask Turkish parliament to discuss a motion that authorizes the government for a year to send Turkish troops to foreign countries."
The parliament is voting on Thursday on the motion that will allow the government to undertake necessary military retaliation against Syria after a mortar strike killed five Turkish civilians in Akcakale, a border town in Turkey's southeastern Sanliurfa province.
"Our armed forces on border region have given the required response in line with the rule of engagements. Targets in Syria, which were detected by radar, were shot by shelling," the Turkish prime ministry said in a statement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has contacted NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahim, according to the statement.
"Turkey will never remain unresponsive against these sorts of provocations of Syrian regime within the framework of rules of engagement and international law," the statement added.
Three or four Syrian artillery shells landed in Akcakale, in Sanliurfa province bordering Syria, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported, citing Sanliurfa Governor Celalettin Guvenc.
One of the artillery shells hit a house, killing a mother and her four children. "In the incident, 10 people were wounded, including police officers. Two of those wounded are in serious condition," Guvenc said.
"We have evacuated 30 residents in the region close to the Turkish-Syrian border, and schools went on a recess as a precaution," Guvenc added.
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said on Wednesday that NATO was closely monitoring the situation in southeastern Turkey. Turkey is a member of the alliance.
Ankara has repeatedly complained about the spillover of Syrian artillery and gun fire into its territory. Last week, the Turkish government signaled that it would take action if mortar strikes were repeated on its territory from Syria.
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