Turkey 'closes' airspace to Israel

Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has closed Turkish airspace to Israel, the country's state-run news agency has reported.

Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has closed Turkish airspace to Israel, the country's state-run news agency has reported.

The Anatolia news agency quotes Mr Erdogan as telling reporters in Canada that Turkey imposed a ban on flights after the May 31st Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. He did not elaborate.

Eight Turks and a Turkish-American were killed in the raid. Israel says its commandos were acting in self-defence.

Turkey withdrew its ambassador and canceled joint military drills in response. It has said it would reduce military and trade ties unless and not return its ambassador unless Israel apologises for the raid.

It also wants Israel to return the seized aid ships, agree to an international investigation and offer compensation for the victims.