Turkey to let go Syrian plane after confiscating suspected "military materials"

 • Turkey is set to let go a Syrian plane loading with suspicious cargo after forcing it to land in Ankara.

 • "Military materials" were detected during the investigation, a Turkish official told Xinhua.

 • The Syrian plane was forced to land in Ankara Wednesday over intelligence of "non- civilian cargo".

ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is set to let go a Syrian civilian plane loading with suspicious cargo, after forcing it to land in Ankara earlier on Wednesday, local media reported.

"Military materials" were detected during the investigation, a Turkish official told Xinhua. The plane, from Moscow to Damascus, was waiting for Turkish Foreign Ministry's approval to take off again.

There were "objectionable" materials aboard, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters during his visit to Athens.

"We keep the materials for examination and further operations," Davutoglu added.

The Syrian passenger plane was forced to land in the Turkish capital of Ankara earlier on Wednesday over intelligence of "non- civilian cargo," Davutoglu said earlier in a televised interview.

The Damascus-bound plane had given "lacking notification" or " misinformation" about its cargo, Davutoglu said a few hours after the plane was forced by two F-16 warplanes to land at Esenboga Airport in Ankara.

Turkey scrambled F-16 fighter jets after the Airbus A-320 type plane, which took off from Moscow, entered into Turkey's airspace, and forced it to land in Ankara, according to earlier report.

Turkey is determined to stop any transfer of weapons to Syrian government through its territory, Davutoglu noted.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has also instructed Turkish aviation companies to stay away from Syrian airspace and use other routes, the minister said, citing security threat in Syria.

Related:

Turkey confiscates suspected "military materials" in Syrian plane

ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkey seized Wednesday suspicious cargo on board a Syrian civilian plane after intercepting the aircraft which was flying on the way from Moscow to Damascus.Full Story

Syrian plane forced to land in Ankara over intelligence of "non-civilian cargo": Turkish FM

ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Syrian passenger plane was forced to land in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Wednesday over intelligence of "non-civilian cargo," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.Full Story

News Analysis: Tension lingers between Turkey and Syria over mortar strikes

ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- A stern warning issued by Turkey's top military commander against Syria on Wednesday is yet another indication that tension over border incidents between Turkey and Syria, former allies, will not subside anytime soon.Full Story