NATO has condemned the downing of Turkish fighter plane by Syria as an unacceptable act. The foreign ministers of NATO at an emergency session in Brussels have condemned the act in strongest terms.

The NATO Secretary General Anderson Rasmussen told that the act shows Syrian disregard for international norms, peace, security and human life. He said that NATO is seized of the matter and will continue to follow the situation.

Rasmussen told that the NATO stands together with Turkey in this hour of crisis. The meeting was called under Article 4 of NATO Charter at the request of Turkey which calls for consultation in case of threat to security, integrity and territorial rights of a member nation.

Earlier today, Turkish Prime Minster Tayyip Erdogan told parliament in Ankara that the Turkish fighter plane was shot down by Syria in the international airspace. He termed it as a hostile act. Syria however denied the charges and said the plane plane violated its airspace and was downed in an act of self defence.