Ankara: The Israeli ambassador was summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry on Monday after Israeli forces stormed a Turkish aid ship and activists said two people were killed, a Turkish diplomat said.
"The ambassador (Gabby Levy) was summoned to the foreign ministry. We will convey our reaction in the strongest terms," the diplomat, who asked not to be named.
Reports by activists that two people were killed and about 30 wounded on the Mavi Marmara ship "seem to be true," the diplomat said.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc meanwhile conveyed an emergency meeting with senior officials, including the minister of the interior, the navy chief and the army's head of operations, Anatolia news agency reported.
Arinc was in charge as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently on a visit to Chile.
Police stepped up security outside the residence of the Israeli ambassador, where several dozen protestors gathered to protest the Israeli operation against the aid flotilla, television footage showed.
A group of protestors gathered also outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, waving Palestinian flags, Anatolia said.
