Erdogan offers condolences to Algeria over plane crash

By Aynur Ekiz

ANKARA

The Turkish president offered condolences to his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Wednesday after a military aircraft crashed near the capital Algiers, killing 257 people.

“I want you to know that we are always ready to help our Algerian brothers, in case it is needed in this grave situation,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, according to presidential sources.

“I wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives and offer my condolences to the friendly and brotherly Algerian people.”

Earlier in the day, the Turkish foreign minister also offered condolences.

“I was deeply saddened by the loss of such a large number of people after the crash of a military transport plane in Algeria,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a tweet.

Earlier on Wednesday, at least 257 people were killed when an Algerian military plane crashed near Algiers, according to the Algerian Defense Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said that the ill-fated aircraft had been heading for Algeria’s southwestern town of Bechar when it went down.

Most of the victims were reportedly Algerian military personnel and their families.