Syrian opposition calls on Turkey to ensure safe passage of Syrians fleeing conflict

The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces has called on the Turkish government to ensure the safe passage of Syrians fleeing the conflict to safety in Turkey.

The coalition said it hopes that Turkey will issue instructions to its border troops not to apply the rules of engagement either intentionally or by mistake against Syrians crossing the border to Turkey.

The call came after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that at least 11 people were killed by Turkish border guards while crossing the border.

SOHR said the victims were all civilians who were fleeing the fighting in the city of Manbej during the early hours of Sunday morning in the village of Khirbetal-Jouz on the Turkish border.

“The killing of unarmed Syrians contradicts with the hospitality shown by the Turkish government and people towards our Syrian brothers,” the coalition said.

Dr. Burhan Ghalyoon, a leader of the Syrian opposition, has called on the national coalition to open official talks with the Turkish government to reconsider laws and executive actions against the entry of Syrian refugees.