Iranian senior MP calls for Iran-Turkey joint efforts to end Syrian crisis

More interaction between Iran and Turkey, as two important regional states, can help end bloodshed in crisis-hit Syria, and restore peace and tranquility in that country, a senior Iranian lawmaker underscored. Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Monday that Turkey, as a friendly country, can act successfully to resolve the ongoing crisis in Syria by adopting a proper stance. On Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a meeting with Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek in Tehran, called for Tehran and Ankara's increased cooperation in resolving regional crises. During the meeting, the Iranian president pointed to Iran and Turkey as two influential countries, and said, “Tehran and Ankara should play a more effective role in the region, especially in resolving the regional crises, through closer cooperation and interaction.” Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country. Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances. Early in September, the US, Israel and France have adopted the rhetoric of war against Syria over allegations that the Syrian government was behind a recent chemical attack near Damascus. The call for military strike intensified after the militants operating inside Syria and the foreign-backed Syrian opposition claimed on August 21 that hundreds had been killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in the Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar. The Syrian government has strongly denied the claim, accusing the militants of the attack.