British, Turkish FMs discuss crisis in Mideast

British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu have exchanged ideas about the situation in Syria and Egypt.

The two sides met in London on Thursday to explore cooperation on stability in the Middle East.

This meeting came as both Britain and Turkey are among the countries supporting militants fighting inside Syria against President Bashar al-Assad.

It also came after claims accusing the Syrian government of using chemical weapons against militant positions near the Syrian capital.

On Wednesday, the head of the so-called opposition Syrian National Coalition, George Sabra, claimed that 1,300 people were killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar.

But the Syrian Army vehemently rejected allegations that it used chemical weapons against Takfiri militants, saying the accusations were fabricated to distract the visiting team of the UN chemical weapons experts and to cover up militants’ losses.

Hague and his Turkish counterpart also discussed recent violence in Egypt and agreed on a “politically inclusive and democratic process” to end bloodshed in the North Arab country.

The deadly violence in Egypt erupted on August 14 in the capital city of Cairo when security forces attacked supporters of ousted President Morsi, leaving hundreds of people dead and thousands injured.