Turkey: bill not declaration of war against Syria

AKCAKALE, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey's deputy prime minister says a bill approved by the Turkish parliament authorizing the use of force in Syria is not a declaration of war but is intended as a deterrent against its nighbour.

Besir Atalay told reporters after the vote on Thursday: "The bill is not for war... It has deterrent qualities."

Parliament voted 320-129 in favor of the bill that authorizes the military to conduct cross-border operations in Syria, a day after a deadly shelling from the Syrian territory killed five civilians.