Turkish Foreign Ministry said Friday that Turkey supports Tunisian people’s demand for a more democratic society. Turkey has been monitoring developments in Tunisia and hopes the transition period in the country would end by democratic and pluralist means respecting human rights, the ministry said in a statement.
Turkey feels deep sorrow over incidents that took place in Tunisia and hopes that security would be ensured in the country as soon as possible, the statement said.
The Tunisian government, once regarded as one of the Middle East’s most stable, was overthrown earlier this month after mass protests against the government over unemployment, price hike and corruption.
The protests forced President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee the country to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14. Ninety-three people, mostly Turkish citizens, flew to Turkey early Saturday to avoid the violent protests in Egypt, the Anatolia News Agency reported.
A Turkish Airlines flight from Cairo arrived in Istanbul at 5:50 a.m. carrying 93 passengers, including some foreigners, to escape the violent anti-government protests in Egypt that have killed at least 51 people and injured hundreds more.
One of the passengers, Mustafa Gungor, told reporters that police and military forces were all over Egypt.
“It looks like these events will go on for a while,” Gungor said.
Usaid Bin Fakhoriddin, a Malaysian student who has been studying in Egypt for a year, said all cellular and internet services had been blocked so they had no knowledge of events. He said that all people saw was protests on the streets seeking the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in Bosnia-Herzegovina for a state visit, said Friday the government was following the situation closely and maintained regular contact with the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara.
