Ban Raises 'Deep Concern' over Turkey-Syria Jet Tensions

U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon on Saturday raised his "deep concern" about the impact of Syria's shooting down of a Turkish fighter jet with Turkey's foreign minister, a spokesman said.

Ban expressed "his deep concern about the downed Turkish military jet and particularly about the potential serious implications of this incident for the region" in telephone talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

"He commended Turkey for the restraint shown in its initial reaction and appreciated Turkey and Syria for conducting a joint search operation. The secretary general urged both to continue to address the situation diplomatically."

Ban offered U.N. support in the "difficult circumstances,” the spokesman added.

Turkey has acknowledged that the F-4 Phantom jet may have violated Syrian airspace before it was shot down Friday, in comments seen as a bid to cool tensions between the former allies.

Turkey has become a major critic over President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on opposition protests and rebel groups.