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AP Interview: Assad adviser says Turkey's involvement in Kobani is 'aggression' against Syria

Associated Press
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Bouthaina Shaaban, Syrian President Bashar Assad's political adviser, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Shaaban accused Turkey on Thursday of committing "aggression" against the country by allowing rebels to cross into the Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobani to battle the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Diaa Hadid) (The Associated Press)

Bouthaina Shaaban, Syrian President Bashar Assad's political adviser, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Shaaban accused Turkey on Thursday of committing "aggression" against the country by allowing rebels to cross into the Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobani to battle the Islamic State group. In the background is a picture of Syrian President Assad. (AP Photo/Diaa Hadid) (The Associated Press)

Syrian President Bashar Assad's political adviser has accused Turkey of committing "aggression" against his country by allowing rebels to cross into the Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobani.

Bouthaina Shaaban said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that Ankara is trying to expand its influence in Syria by sending in anti-Assad fighters.

The remarks came a day after Turkey allowed 50 armed Free Syrian Army members to cross into the embattled Kobani in a push to help Kurdish fighters there battle the Islamic State group.

The FSA is an umbrella group of mainstream rebels fighting to topple Assad. Its political leadership is based in Turkey.

Turkey is also allowing some 150 Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters into Kobani, where they are expected by the end of the day.