Turkey asks Syria-bound Armenian plane to land in northeast, inspects cargo

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey's foreign ministry spokesman says Turkish authorities are searching the cargo of an Armenian plane bound for Syria.

Selcuk Unal says Turkey granted the plane carrying aid for the Syrian city of Aleppo a permission to fly over its airspace only on condition it can search its cargo for possible military equipment.

Uncal said: "If nothing turns out it will be allowed to continue on its route."

Turkey forced a Syrian passenger plane flying from Moscow to Damascus to land in Ankara last week. Turkey says the Syrian Air plane was carrying military gear. Russia said that the equipment was spare parts for radar systems.

Syria and Turkey barred each other's aircraft from flying over their territory over the weekend.