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ANNOUNCEMENTS•
In various parts of Syria, people protested against reconciliation talks between Turkey and the Syrian government. In all, thousands of people took to the streets.
The demonstrations took place in rebel-held areas in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, in the north-west of the country. Turkey has always supported rebels fighting against President Assad’s forces. The fact that there is now a rapprochement between Ankara and Assad worries local residents.
Protesters fear they are victims of a reconciliation between Damascus and Ankara. Their anger was aimed particularly at Turkish President Erdogan. He recently spoke of a meeting with Assad, whom he had called an assassin in the past. “Martyrs’ blood cannot be sold,” protesters chanted.
Meeting in Moscow
Defense ministers of Syria, Russia and Turkey met in Moscow last week. It was the first meeting at this level between Turkey and the Syrian government since civil war broke out in Syria 12 years ago and Turkey severed diplomatic ties. The talks were held at the insistence of Russia, an ally of Syria.
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Erdogan is facing presidential and parliamentary elections in his own country and is under intense pressure. Many Turks want the government to return the 3.7 million Syrian refugees.
Kurdish militias
Erdogan also fears the rise of Kurdish militias in Syria, backed by the United States. The Turkish president has been threatening a ground offensive for months. The Turkish Air Force has already carried out several bombing raids in northern Syria.
The civil war in Syria has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and much of the country has been destroyed. Half of the population has since fled.
The Syrian government controls most of the country. Several rebel groups occupy parts of the north-west and north-east of the country.
