Turkey sets terms to normalise ties

Ankara: Turkey yesterday said it was ready to normalise ties with Israel if the Jewish state lifts a blockade on Gaza and said "it was time calm replaces anger" in the wake of Israel's deadly raid on a Turkish-backed flotilla.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutogu, in Ankara after a visit to the United States to discuss the diplomatic crisis, also told a news conference that the future of Turkish-Israeli ties depended on Israel's attitude.

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel following Monday's storming of Gaza bound aid ships.

Also, Turkey insisted that an international commission must be set up to investigate the deaths on the Gaza aid flotilla, and its foreign minister said Israel has agreed to release all Turks involved in clash. Davutoglu said 210 Turks were scheduled to be flown home from Israel on Turkish planes late yesterday.

He said Israel also assured Turkey it would not put any Turkish protesters on trial.

"We have clearly stated that we would review our ties with Israel if all Turks not released by the end of the day," Davutoglu said. "All citizens of foreign countries will be set free."

Israel's bloody raid on a flotilla of aid ships that carried about 400 Turks dramatically escalated tensions with Turkey.

The attack killed nine people, including at least four Turks.

Turkey withdrew its ambassador and scrapped war games with Israel as a result.

"No one has the right to try people who were kidnapped in international waters," Davutoglu told a news conference.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday chaired a security meeting of the country's top military commanders and defence officials to discuss the Israeli raid while the parliament held heated debates on whether to impose military and economic sanctions on Israel.

But lawmakers of Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party objected to such measures in an apparent move to avoid aggravating the situation.

Davutoglu said a Turkish delegation was in Israel to oversee the return of the detained Turks, and two who are in serious condition would remain in Israeli hospitals to be attended to by a Turkish doctor.

"We will not leave them to the mercy of anyone," Davutoglu said.

The moves came as hundreds of Turks protested Israel's commando raid for a third day yesterday and Israeli diplomats' families began packing to leave following orders from the Israeli government.