BELEK: President Tayyip Erdogan urged world leaders on Saturday to prioritise the fight against terrorism as they gather for a summit in Turkey, saying attacks in Paris claimed by Islamic State showed the time for words was now over.
At least 127 people were killed as bombers and gunmen went on a deadly rampage at locations across the French capital overnight, targeting a concert hall, restaurants, bars and a sports stadium.
"We are now at a point where words end in the fight against terrorism. We are now at a stage where this should be put at the forefront," Erdogan told reporters ahead of a two-day summit of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies (G20) that begins on Sunday.
The killings, the worst bloodshed in France since the end of World War Two, are set to cast a shadow over the summit in the coastal province of Antalya, due to be attended by leaders from countries including the United States, China, Japan, Russia, Canada, Australia and Brazil.
Although the G20 usually focuses on economic issues, insecurity in the Middle East and global security were already expected to be on the agenda. Erdogan said on Wednesday he wanted leaders to discuss the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
French President Francois Hollande, who has declared a state of emergency, told Erdogan by phone that he would not attend the summit, but that France's finance and foreign ministers would be there, according to Turkish presidential sources. All other leaders, including US President Barack Obama and Britain's David Cameron, were expected to attend.
"These attacks are not only against the French people but all humanity, democracy, freedoms and universal values," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office said in a statement.
"Turkey is in full cooperation with France and other allied countries in the fight against terrorism ... and we will fight with full determination," the statement said.
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