Moscow: Russia is against no-fly zone in Syria

Russia on Monday spoke out against the creation of a no-fly zone in Syria, saying it was important to respect the war-torn country's sovereignty.

"Of course, we are against it," deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov told the Interfax news agency.

"It is necessary to respect countries' sovereignty," he said, adding that such a move would contravene the UN charter and international law.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and EU head Donald Tusk said earlier that they had discussed Ankara's controversial plan for a no-fly zone and a safe zone cleared of Islamic State jihadists in northern Syria.

Western officials had previously cast doubt on the Turkish proposals and the Financial Times reported at the weekend that Moscow's dramatic entry into the Syria conflict had scuppered any plans of a US-led coalition for such a zone.

Last week, Russia launched air strikes against what it says are Islamic State militants in Syria, adding a dramatic new angle to the multi-front war.

On Monday, NATO member Turkey protested to Moscow after jets intercepted a Russian fighter plane that violated its airspace near the Syrian border at the weekend.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow would look into the issue.

Source: AFP