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Both the Turkish and U.S. governments have condemned attacks on opposition figures carried out by the Syrian government over the weekend that resulted in the death of Kurdish opposition leader Mishaal al-Tammo.
Calling the attack “vicious and unprovoked,” the White House press office said al-Tammo, was killed by government security forces. It added that another prominent activist, Riad Sayf, was hospitalized after being attacked by regime forces.
The incidents come just a few days after Russia and China vetoed a Europe-backed resolution against Syria in the United Nations Security Council; a move that drew condemnation from both the United States and Turkey.
In response to the veto, Turkey said it will draw up its own sanctions against its neighbor.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday, “We are deeply concerned by and strongly condemn the attempts to subdue the opposition in Syria and the rise in the number of assaults targeting leading opposition figures.”
The Syrian government warned Sunday that any country that recognizes the National Transitional Council, a recently set up opposition party, will face retribution in some form or another.“We are not interested in what they seek, and we will take strict measures against any country which will recognize this illegitimate council,” said Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem at a news conference, according to state-run television.
