Turkey vows to pile pressure on Israel

Istanbul: Turkey was to seek the backing of its Middle Eastern and Asian neighbours at a regional summit on Tuesday to step up pressure on Israel over the killing of nine Turks on an aid ship bound for Gaza.

Israel has already rejected a United Nations call for an international inquiry into its seizure of the ship last week.

But Turkey, flexing its diplomatic muscle as one of the biggest military and economic powers in the region, said it wasn't giving up.

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"Whatever steps are necessary will be taken," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

"Israel will have to pay the price for the martyrs, and will pay.

"We are patient and will continue this process with patience."

Until recently, Turkey had avoided getting embroiled in conflict in its eastern backyard as it pursued its goal of joining the European Union.

But Erdogan's strident criticism of Israel has made him a figurehead for those opposed to Israel's embargo of Gaza.

Despite hosting the likes of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a sworn enemy of Israel and the United States, Nato-member Turkey has still seen itself as a mediator in regional disputes and a bridge between east and west.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul urged Ahmadinejad on Monday to tell the world his government was ready to cooperate and solve the dispute over its nuclear programme.

This would need to be before a looming UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on Tehran.

"This opportunity cannot be lost," a Turkish official quoted Gul as telling the Iranian president.

"We have to show the whole world that a diplomatic solution can yield results."

The usually low-profile Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) forum has taken on a new importance since the May 31 seizure of the Mavi Marmara boat as it attempted to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza strip.

Erdogan was to have a breakfast meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday after meeting the presidents of Afghanistan, Iran and Syria on Monday.

Israel, a member of CICA, has sent its consul.

Turkey is pressing for an international investigation into the raid, even though Israel has said it will conduct its own investigation.

While Iran's Revolutionary Guards have offered to provide a naval escort to ships attempting to break the blockade, there was little sense among diplomats that Turkey, even with the second biggest army in Nato, would risk military confrontation with Israel.