ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will embark on a tour of Syria, Jordan, Saudia Arabia and Egypt this week in a bid to ease regional tensions after Israel s offensive in Gaza, officials said Monday.
The tour will begin today, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said, without giving details about Erdogan s itinerary.
He will discuss what can be done to secure peace and stability in the region, Cicek told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting.
Turkey is ready to do what it can to stop the bloodshed, he said.
Predominantly Muslim, non-Arab Turkey is Israel s main regional ally but also has close ties with the Palestinians, whose plight enjoys widespread sympathy in the country.
Earlier Monday, Turkey said indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria which it had mediated since May had become impossible after Jewish state s onslaught on Gaza.
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Israel s move had led to profound regret and disappointment in Turkey and urged an immediate ceasefire, following talks with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who was in Ankara to discuss the crisis.
