Erdogan phones Putin after killing of Russian ambassador: Turkish presidency

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to brief him over the gun attack that killed the Russian ambassador to Ankara, the Turkish presidency said.

"The president has spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to share information about tonight´s attack," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in a statement.

'Turkey will not allow shooting to overshadow ties'

Turkey will not allow Monday's shooting to "cast a shadow" over Turkish-Russian friendship, the Turkey's foreign ministry said, expressing deep sadness and condemning the "lowly terrorist attack".

The statement, paying tribute to the ambassador as being a well-respected diplomat, said the attacker had been "neutralized" and that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice.