BRUSSELS
The European Union said Friday it strongly condemned the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, or the ISIL's offensive in the Syrian town of Kobane after three weeks of fierce fighting.
''The people of Kobane have demonstrated to the international community their resolve to use all means to protect their fundamental rights and values and to resist oppression,'' the EU External Action said in a press release Friday.
The EU emphasized the need to work together with Turkey and other regional partners to isolate the ISIL threat.
''We are also very concerned by the recent related violence in Turkey and by the loss of life,'' the statement said. ''We call on all sides to commit to dialogue to resolve differences, and reiterate the EU's strong support for the government's Kurdish solution process.''
The death toll in Turkey’s nationwide demonstrations by pro-Kurdish protesters reached 32 on Friday. The protesters claim the Turkish government was doing nothing to prevent the ISIL advances in Kobane.
The pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, or the HDP, called on people to protest when the situation in Kobane turned critical.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Tuesday Kobane was about to fall into ISIL hands.
www.aa.com.tr/en
