ISTANBUL – Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday warned militants not to harm the 49 Turkish consul staff and 31 truck drivers taken hostage in Mosul, northern Iraq, saying no one should “test’’ Turkey’s strength.
Davutoglu said the consul building could not be evacuated ahead of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s capture of the city because of the risks involved in leaving the premises.
He was speaking as Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul were meeting with the heads of the army, top diplomats and senior intelligence officials.
Reports say jihadists had on Tuesday secured a foothold in northern Iraq declaring it an Islamic State. (dpa/NAN)
