Jerusalem, Jan 5 : Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used exceptionally harsh words to describe Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, despite both countries enjoying good bilateral ties.

Speaking in Antalya following his Middle Eastern tour, Erdogan said Israel was perpetrating "inhumane actions" which would "bring it to destroy itself," The Jerusalem Post reported.

"Allah will sooner or later punish those who transgress the rights of innocents," Erdogan said.

Ankara - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned of the Middle East getting trapped in a "spiral of violence" ahead of a regional tour aimed at exerting pressure on Israel to stop its military operations in Gaza.

"Developments in the Gaza Strip are very dangerous for regional peace ... we cannot remain silent," Erdogan said before leaving for Syria.

"We are concerned that the Middle East will become trapped in a spiral of violence. The aim of this tour is to bring about an end to this dangerous situation," Erdogan said.

New Delhi, Nov 21 : Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who arrived on a five day visit to India to enhance bilateral ties met President Pratibha Patil here today.

Talking to media after his ceremonial reception at President House this morning, Erdogan said that the two countries have come closer and deeper during the last five years to further their commercial and cultural ties.

Erdogan is accompanied by a high level delegation including three ministers as well as lawmakers and business leaders.

New Delhi - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday began his official visit to India, during which the global financial crisis, energy and trade will dominate the agenda for discussions with Indian leaders.

Erdogan, who arrived in New Delhi at midnight Thursday on a five-day visit, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in the forecourt of the presidential palace.

New Delhi - India and Turkey were expected to discuss energy cooperation and consolidating trade and political ties during the five-day visit starting this week of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the South Asian country, officials said Thursday.

Erdogan, due to arrive in New Delhi late Thursday, was scheduled to hold talks Friday with his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh.

It would be the first visit by a Turkish prime minister to India in two decades.

Baghdad  - A Kurdish Autonomous Region official said he was hopeful that a landmark visit to Iraq by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would end a phase of cold relations between Ankara, Baghdad and the Kurdish region, media reports said Friday.

"Erdogan's historic visit comes at the right time, heralding an end to a phase of cold relations over the past years between Baghdad, Arbil and Ankara," Parliamentary Speaker Adnan al-Mufti told the Voices of Iraq news agency.