Turkey threatens diplomatic break with Israel over raid

Turkey has threatened to break all diplomatic ties with Israel over its raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Turkey's foreign minister said such a break could only be averted if Israel either apologised or accepted the outcome of an international inquiry into the incident in May.

The Israeli government said it has nothing to apologise for. Ankara curtailed diplomatic relations with Israel after the naval raid, in which nine Turks were killed.

But Mr Davutoglu said his government would be satisfied with the ongoing Israeli inquiry if that found Israel to be at fault.

"Israelis have three options," he said in remarks published by Turkish media on Monday. "They will either apologise or acknowledge an international, impartial inquiry and its conclusion. Otherwise, our diplomatic ties will be cut off."

Davutoglu also said there was now a blanket ban in place on all Israeli military aircraft using Turkish airspace, not just on a case-by-case basis.

According to BBC News Turkey appears to be hardening its stance towards Israel, just five days after a surprise meeting between Davutoglu and Israeli Trade Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer in Switzerland. Israel says its commandos acted in self-defence after being attacked by passengers on the ship, which was part of a flotilla trying to break its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Turkey - which until recently was Israel's most important Muslim ally - has demanded also compensation for the victims' families.