Turkey FM urges to end clashes in Syria during Ramadan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday pledged to continue supporting the Syrian people during his meeting with Ahmad Jarba, the new head of the Syrian opposition. "I hope this Ramadan will be the end of the suffering of the Syrian people and peace will prevail in the country," Davutoglu was quoted as saying by the semi-official Anatolia news agency. The Syrian National Coalition was the "sole representative of the Syrian people" for Turkey, Davutoglu noted. For his part, Jarba expressed gratitude for Turkey's support to the Syrian people, urging the international community to increase pressure on the Syrian government to end clashes in the central city of Homs during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Jarba was elected as new leader of the Syrian opposition following a run-off vote held in Istanbul on Saturday. Jarba, a tribal figure from the eastern Hasaka province, is seen as having close connection with Saudi Arabia. Ankara has been providing shelter for the Syrian opposition groups and refugees since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict two years ago. Turkey currently shelters about 200,000 Syrian refugees, according to the latest UN figure.