PM Erdoğan: “I would like to remind Assad of Gaddafi and Mubarak”

During an address to the nation, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reacted to the Kurdish settlement in northern Syria by stating, "As the Assad regime's massacres ruthlessly continue, Turkey will never tolerate these kinds of de facto moves. We will continue to stand against any act targeting our peace and comfort, or threatening our security."

Erdoğan also drew on the examples of overthrown leaders such as Gaddafi and Mubarak in reference to Assad as he went on to deliver the following messages:

A SIGN OF PANIC

"Throughout history, both Damascus and Aleppo have been besieged numerous times. They have been subjected to massacres, to tyrants, to villains and to despots and have always responded in the strongest way possible. Today, along with all other cities in Syria, its true children will respond to the oppressors in the manner necessary.

In Syria, the Assad regime's desperate fulmination is actually the sign of panic and an eclipse of reason. Assad and his bloody companions have now realized that the aftermath will be no different than what happened to dictators before them. Our brothers the Syrian public, like the Middle East, will hopefully be saved from bloody dictators from here on out.

Turkey's policy when it comes to Syria is being subjected to criticism from certain circles both within and outside of the country. How could we remain silent as the entire Syrian public suffers from oppression?

As Turkey, we defend the protection of Syria's territorial integrity. We support a parliamentarian and democratic system in which every ethnic, sectarian and religious group will be represented and serve as equal citizens in the nation's administration.

We will not allow for provocative moves by the bloody Assad regime as it is on its way out that would disrupt security in the region. As the Assad regime's massacres ruthlessly continue, Turkey will never tolerate these kinds of de facto moves. We will continue to stand against any act targeting our peace and comfort, or threatening our security."