Eastern Ghouta tragedy ‘shame of humanity,’ says Turkish PM

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Tuesday that the tragedy unfolding in the besieged Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta is a “shame of humanity,” after reports of continued Assad regime shelling despite a UN resolution calling for a 30 day truce.

“The UN has adopted a resolution calling for a 30 day ceasefire in Ghouta. What’s happening in Ghouta is a shame of humanity. They can’t even evacuate the wounded. The goal of this resolution is to allow access for humanitarian aid to affected areas. We support this resolution. Despite its adoption, the regime started to attack. There are reports of chemical weapons being used,” said Yıldırım.

Flouting the United Nations Security Council and Russia’s ceasefire, the Bashar al-Assad regime fired artillery shells into Syria's opposition-held Eastern Ghouta on Tuesday.

A five-hour truce from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (0700 GMT to 1200 GMT) called by Russia began on Tuesday. Moscow said the aim of the truce was to allow civilians to escape the targeted area.

The Syrian regime has engaged in a fierce offensive targeting Eastern Ghouta as the suburb has been under a five-year siege. Bombardment has killed hundreds since Feb. 18.

Yıldırım called on the Czech Republic to extradite Salih Muslim, former co-leader of the terrorist group PYD/PKK.

"Today is exam day for our NATO ally the Czech Republic," Binali Yildirim told his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday.

"I hope the Czech Republic sees the sense in fighting terrorism, and extradites this terrorist in solidarity with us," he added.

Yıldırım said Turkey has taken the necessary steps for the terrorist’s extradition.