Turkish parliament authorises military action against Syria

AKCAKALE, Turkey (AFP) - Turkey's parliament on Thursday authorised military action against Syria but insisted it was not a war mandate following deadly cross-border fire that sent tensions soaring.

The vote came as Turkish artillery hit targets inside Syria in retaliation for the shelling that killed five Turkish nationals a day earlier in the border town of Akcakale.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan later stressed Turkey has no intention of going to war with Syria, but said it would always defend its borders and its citizens.

"No country should dare test our determination on that," Mr Erdogan said.