Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has rejected claims that Turkey supported ISIL, in an exclusive interview with BBC's Jeremy Bowen. "This is very unfair assessment and I categorically reject this," Davutoglu said. Davutoglu emphasized that Turkey was against all terrorist groups because they are a threat to Turkey more than any other country. "Turkey never, never supported ISIL or any group linked to ISIL," he added, using an alternative acronym for the militant group. The Turkish premiere also said that Turkey welcomed refugees who escaped from those terrorist groups' atrocities. "Turkey is now a destination of freedom for two million people from Syria," he said. When asked about the progress on a possible coalition government, Davutoglu said his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party have held "lengthy consultations" with the leftist Republican People's Party, which came second in June 7 general elections in Turkey. "There is no choice without AK Party," Davutoglu said, underlining that the AK Party received 41 percent of overall votes. BBC also quoted the Turkish PM on its website as saying during the partly televised interview that Turkey will push again for a no-fly zone over Syria and a "safe area" is needed. More than 1,300 people have been detained in a recent wave of counter-terrorism raids in Turkey since the ISIL-suspected July 20 deadly blast in southeastern Sanliurfa province that killed 32 people.
