Babies named after Turkish PM on his Gaza stance

Damascus: A newborn baby in Syria has been named Chaves Erdogan after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Chavez, a firebrand who makes no bones about his dislike for the US, had visited Syria in September 2009 while Erdogan endeared himself to Syrians after he lashed out at Israeli President Shimon Peres at Davos in January 2009 and, more recently, recalled his ambassador from Tel Aviv after the Israeli attack on the ‘Freedom Flotilla' carrying aid to Gaza.

Naming children after respected political figures is a long-held tradition in Syria.

Chaves Erdogan Al Basha is the son of Abdul Salam Al Basha, who lives in a village near the governorate of Idlib in northern Syria.

The proud father said: "If I get a sixth child, I will call him Ustool Al Huriyya [Freedom Flotilla]."

A Gaza man has also named his son after Erdogan. Khan Younis resident Saleh Abu Shamala said on Sunday he decided to name his third child Recep Erdogan after the Turkish premier "because he was the only leader who called to lift the unfair siege of Gaza".