This was a
vintage
performance by the Turkish prime minister, arousing speech to his party in parliament which combines denunciation of Syria's actions on Friday with a broader defense of his government's foreign policy in the region. He repeated his government's arguments that the F-4
reconnaissance
plane was unarmed, clearly identifiable, and outside Syrian airspace when it was shot down. Mr Erdogan went on to define the Assad government as a security threat, not just to its own people, but to Turkey as well.
The European Union is to consider proposals that would give it a much greater say in the economic affairs of countries using the European single currency. The plan was unveiled by the head of the European council, Herman Van Rompuy. Here's Andrew Walker.
Mr Van Rompuy's vision is of a much more integrated eurozone with increased, though not complete central control over government budgets. He
stopped short of
calling for a move to joint borrowing by issuing Euro bonds, but he does suggest it be considered. He also proposes an integrated approach to banks through deposit guarantees and arranges for dealing with failing banks – what has been called a banking union. The idea is politically challenging for many countries as the significant public concern about further European integration.Andrew Walker reporting.
This is the latest World News from the BBC.
Nigerian soldiers serving in the United Nations and African Union missions in Sudan have threatened trouble unless they're brought home within a week. The tour of duty of the troops who have been acting as peacekeepers in Darfur ended in May. The soldiers blamed the delay in their