World Bulletin/News Desk

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Syria was the main concern that defined the country's policy on the Syria crisis.

"Our interests over Syria are totally humanistic and conscientious, so we purely and simply stand by humanity and conscience," Erdogan told a televised address to the nation.

Touching on the May 11 twin car bombings in Turkey's Reyhanli town near the Syrian border which killed 52 people, Erdogan said Turkey's security and intelligence units solved the case in a very short time and that a number of suspects were arrested and brought to justice.

On his visit to the United States earlier this month, Erdogan said he discussed and consulted with President Barack Obama on the Syria issue and Iraq, as well as the peace process in the Middle East, Cyprus, and issues in Africa including Somalia, fight against terrorism, and global economic issues.