<p>Syria has denounced Turkey’s request that Nato deploy Patriot defence missiles near its border with Syria, making its first response to the move by Ankara earlier this week.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Syria stresses its condemnation of the Turkish government’s latest provocative step,” state-run Syria TV on Friday quoted a Foreign Ministry source as saying. The Patriot system is designed to intercept hostile aircraft or missiles.<br /><br />Turkey formally made the request after weeks of talks with its Nato allies about how to shore up its 900-km border, where it fears security may deteriorate as the Syrian army fights rebels. “There is no reason for panic because Syria respects the sovereignty Turkish territory,” Syrian official said.</p>
<p>Syria has denounced Turkey’s request that Nato deploy Patriot defence missiles near its border with Syria, making its first response to the move by Ankara earlier this week.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Syria stresses its condemnation of the Turkish government’s latest provocative step,” state-run Syria TV on Friday quoted a Foreign Ministry source as saying. The Patriot system is designed to intercept hostile aircraft or missiles.<br /><br />Turkey formally made the request after weeks of talks with its Nato allies about how to shore up its 900-km border, where it fears security may deteriorate as the Syrian army fights rebels. “There is no reason for panic because Syria respects the sovereignty Turkish territory,” Syrian official said.</p>