Turkey accuses Russia of 'ethnic cleansing' in Syria

Turkey has accused Russia of conducting "ethnic cleansing" in Syria via its bombing raids in north-western part of the country.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the bombings were attempting to clear ethnic Turkmen and Sunni Arabs out of the area.

The Turkish prime minister's statement comes at a time when the competing interests of his country and Russia across the Middle East came closer to an outright clash, The Telegraph reported.

They have already been the site of sectarian clashes and massacres on both sides as Syria rebel groups, including militants, target the area and Assad regime troops backed by Iran and Russia try to shore up the base support of ]Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose family comes from Latakia.