Erdogan gives Damascus "final warning"

Speaking on the telephone earlier this week, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave what appeared to be a final warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad to change course. In the wake of saying earlier that he was losing his patience, Erdogan again urged Assad to end military operations against protestors, listen to the opposition, and announce a schedule for reforms. In the half-hour phone call, initiated by Assad to congratulate Erdogan on Sunday's election victory, Erdogan thanked Assad, but told him recent events in Syria have harmed its international image. Assad told Erdogan in reply that he was sending a special envoy to Ankara, which arrived yesterday.