ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned on Sunday killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi in a missile strike of Israeli security forces.
A statement of Turkish Foreign Ministry said that such illegal acts did not serve peace and tranquility in the region but increased violence and conflicts.
The statement noted that Israel's violence and operations aiming to assassinate people in its fight against terrorism would not help restore Israel's security.
Violence of sides in the region did not only worsen the situation but also hampered efforts to reach peace in the region, the statement pointed out.
The statement said, ''there is no other alternative for the sides to begin dialogue as soon as possible in order to take up all issues concerning a final settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute within the framework of the road map proposed for the region. Majority of the international community expects the parties to behave so. In this context, we reiterate our call for the parties to refrain from acts which will increase violence and be moderate for the sake of peace and well-being of Palestinian and Jewish peoples.''
An Israeli missile strike killed Rantisi on Saturday as he rode in his car. Rantisi's son Mohammed and a bodyguard were also killed in the attack.
(BRC) 18.04.2004