Ankara: Turkish police fired tear gas to stop a small group of anti-war protesters approaching parliament on Thursday as deputies debated a motion that could authorise military action in Syria if the government deems it necessary.

A reporter saw 25-30 protesters chanting “We don’t want war!” and “The Syrian people are our brothers!” in front of the parliament building in the capital Ankara.

Turkish artillery hit targets near Syria’s Tel Abyad border town for a second day on Thursday in response to a mortar fired from Syria that killed five civilians in the Turkish town of Akcakale on Wednesday.