Turkish PM says US air strikes in Iraq could cause heavy casualties

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara on June 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara on June 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

ISTANBUL (REUTERS) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday US air strikes on militants in Iraq could cause a high number of civilian deaths and that Washington did not view such a strategy favourably.

"America, with its current stance and the statements it has made, does not view such attacks positively," Mr Erdogan told reporters in Ankara when asked about the possibility of US air strikes.

"There are (militant) ISIL elements which are mixed in with the people. Such an operation could result in a serious number of deaths among civilians," he said.

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