"We will not allow a new Qandil on our southern border" with Syria, Erdogan said in a televised speech in Ankara, referring to the mountain in northern Iraq which for years has been stronghold of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants.

"They (the West) tell use to stop shelling" the Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said after Turkey hit their positions for four days in a row. "Forgive me, but there is no question of us doing such a thing."