Woolwich attack: Terror suspects "known to security services'
This came in a statement in an interview with the Interfax news agency by a high-ranking official of a Russian arms-exporting agency.
He was commenting on the recent statement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, who claimed that the Syrian airliner, which was made to land at Ankara airport, was carrying ammunition from Moscow to Damascus.
The Russian official did not rule out that the airliner may have carried some radio electronic equipment that posed no threat and was transported on a perfectly legal basis.
The Russian Rosoboronexport agency and the Federal Service for Military-Technological Cooperation confirmed earlier that they had sent no equipment to Syria by that particular plane.
US backs Turkey’s Syrian jet grounding
The United States has thrown its support behind Turkey’s decision to intercept a Syrian plane en route from Moscow to Damascus on Wednesday.
This came in a statement by State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on Friday.
“We strongly support the government of Turkey's decision to inspect the plane,” Ms Nuland said. “Any transfer of any military equipment to the Syrian regime at this time is very concerning. And we look forward to hearing more from the Turkish side when they get to the bottom of what they found,” she added.
The spokeswoman refused to comment rumours alleging it was Washington that had tipped off Ankara on the nature of cargo transported by the grounded passenger plane.
Syria refutes Turkey’s statements that Syria-bound plane carried munitions
Syrian authorities have accused Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of falsehood, as they vehemently refute his statement that the Syrian-bound plane from Russia was carrying a cargo of munitions. This information was reported by the BBC.
"These accusations are false and groundless," says the Syrian Foreign Ministry statement.
Earlier, the Turkish authorities indicated that the "Syrian Airlines” passenger plane en route from Moscow to Damascus was carrying a cargo of military hardware. The plane was forced to land at the airport in Ankara on Wednesday night. The cargo was confiscated, after which the aircraft was allowed to resume its flight.
On board were 35 passengers, including 17 Russians. Moscow has expressed its concerns over endangering the lives of Russians, and demanded an explanation from the Turkish side in connection with the incident.
Syria plane was carrying Russian-made munitions - Turkish PM
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday a Syrian passenger plane forced to land in Ankara was carrying Russian-made munitions destined for Syria's defence ministry.
Turkish authorities ordered the Syrian Air passenger plane, which was travelling from Moscow to Damascus, to land late on Wednesday after receiving an intelligence tip-off and seized some of its cargo.
The munitions allegedly found in the intercepted plane’s cargo were manufactured in Russia, Erdogan said while speaking at a press conference with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
A Syria Air passenger jet was intercepted in the Turkish airspace and diverted to the international airport in Ankara for inspection. Turkish officials claimed the plane was carrying “non-civilian” cargo.
Russia’s Ambassador in Turkey’s FM over plane interception
Russia’s Ambassador to Ankara visited Turkey’s Foreign Ministry Thursday over the plane interception incident.
On Wednesday, Turkey arrested a Syria-bound passenger plane from Moscow saying it was carrying illegal cargo.
The plane had 17 Russians on board and Moscow expressed its concerns over endangering passengers and sought explanation over the incident.
Turkey hasn’t informed Russian diplomats that there were Russians among the passengers. Istanbul also claims that its police confiscated military equipment cargo from the plane.
Officials in Russia and Syria strongly denied the allegations.
Voice of Russia, Reuters, BBC, RT, Interfax
