US condemns attack on Russia's Ankara envoy

Russia's ambassador to Turkey has been shot dead in an 'assassination' - that was allegedly carried out in retaliation for the crisis in Aleppo.

Washington, Dec 19: The United States moved quickly today to condemn a gun attack in Ankara that left the Russian ambassador to Turkey severely wounded.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. The US spokesman did not suggest who might have been behind the attack, which witnesses said was carried out by a gunman demanding "revenge" for Aleppo.

Russian forces were instrumental in helping government troops recapture the city of Aleppo from rebel forces in Turkey's neighbor Syria last week. Washington has previously warned Moscow that its support for Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime risks radicalizing moderate rebels and boosting support for extremists.

PTI