Russia says Syria downing of Turkey jet not a 'provocation'

AFP photo

Russia said today its regional ally Syria's downing of a Turkish jet last week should not be viewed as a provocation or an intentional move.

"We believe it is important that the incident is not viewed as a provocation or an intentional action, and that it does not lead to destabilising the situation," the foreign ministry said in its first comment on Friday's incident. (MOSCOW - Agence France-Presse)