PM Erdoğan warns Assad: Era of oppressors is over

On the last stop of his Arab uprising countries tour, PM Erdoğan praises Libya opposition for being an example for Syria, where he says Assad’s time is running out.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stepped up his rhetoric against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Friday, saying those in Syria who inflict repression on the people will not survive.

Erdoğan told a cheering crowd in Tripoli that by ousting Col. Moammar Gadhafi, the Libyan people had set an example to others seeking to throw off oppression. The Turkish prime minister had arrived in the city on Friday, ending his four-day tour of countries that have been affected by the Arab Spring.

“Do not forget this: those in Syria who inflict repression on the people will not be able to stand on their feet because oppression and prosperity cannot exist together,” he said. “You are the ones who showed the whole world that no administration can stand in the way of the might and will of the people.”

As the prime minister spoke, many in the crowed chanted “Turkey, Turkey.”

Erdoğan said the age of autocracies and totalitarian regimes was over. “Now, the power of the people is coming and I congratulate you on your struggle. From here I call out to Sirte … come, right now, some 10,000 brothers and sisters are hungry and thirsty, embrace your brothers in Tripoli. Spilling blood does not suit us, let us come together.”

Turkish promises of help

Erdoğan said “Libya belongs to Libyans,” meaning that its resources should be used for its people. “Libya should not be [like] Iraq, steps should be taken for that,” Erdoğan said at a joint press conference afterward with Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the chairman of Libya’s National Transitional Council, or NTC.

Erdoğan also reiterated that states could be secular, even if individuals were not, and added that his remarks a day earlier on the subject had been misunderstood in Turkey.

He said secularism was not same as atheism. “If you say secularism does not comply with Islam, then convince me,” he added in response to a question during the press conference at the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli.

Speaking of Turkey’s planned help to Libya, Erdoğan said a new parliamentary building in Tripoli, an orphanage in Misrata and many other public buildings and infrastructure could be established with Turkey’s help in Libya. He also said Turkish Airlines would start flights to Tripoli as soon as possible.

Erdoğan arrived in Tripoli’s Martyrs’ Square after joining Friday prayer at a mosque. He received an enthusiastic welcome from Libyan people and Turkish citizens living in Libya, who came to the square to listen to his speech.

The square was decorated with Turkish and Libyan flags, and banners in Arabic saying “Mr. Erdoğan is beside us, hand in hand” and “Thank you Turkey, thank you Erdoğan” were hung on surrounding buildings.

His visit came a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron were received as heroes in the Libyan capital. French and British air power had helped rebels overrun Tripoli and put Gadhafi to flight.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama will meet Jalil on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, the White House said.

Erdoğan, who is also expected to visit the eastern city of Benghazi before returning to Turkey from there later Friday.
Contributions from Reuters, AFP and AA stories are included in this report.