Intra-party criticism on Syria hits

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader is facing faced intra-party criticism over his remarks following Syria’s shooting down of a Turkish jet over the Mediterranean, the Hürriyet Daily News has learned.

“The incident is a result of the government’s foreign policy mistakes. But Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks created an impression that we would support the government, even if they took a decision for military intervention in Syria. We should give a clear message that we are against war in Syria,” CHP Hatay deputy Refik Eryılmaz reportedly said at his party’s closed-door parliamentary group meeting. Some CHP deputies stressed Syria’s allegation that the Turkish jet was flying over Syrian territory, and suggested that Kılıçdaroğlu should be cautious about the incident. “We have to believe our foreign minister. But our past experiences show that we have to be cautious. They initially denied secret talks with the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] PKK, but later they admitted it. That’s why we should be very careful,” Eryılmaz reportedly said.