Australia calls for restraint after Russian plane shot down

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia's prime minister on Wednesday called for Russia and Turkey to show restraint over the shooting down of as Russian jet fighter near the Syria-Turkey border, adding Australia is paying close attention to the safety of Australian pilots over Syria.

Turkey shot down a Russian fighter plane that Turkey said crossed into its territory from Syria on Tuesday, killing at least one of the two pilots. Russia said its jet was shot down over Syria and warned of serious consequences.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the significance of the incident would depend on how Turkey and Russia reacted.

"This is a matter of great concern. We call on all parties to exercise restraint in respect of this incident," Turnbull told reporters.

Australia has six F/A-18A Hornet fighters flying missions against Islamic State militant targets in Iraq and Syria as part of the U.S.-led coalition.

Turnbull said there was a memorandum of understanding between the coalition forces and the Russians setting out rules for air operations over Syria "to avoid ... incidents like the one we've just seen."

"We are paying very close attention to that and of course the safety of our personnel," Turnbull said. "It is essential for all of the parties in that increasingly complex conflict to have a high degree of awareness of where each other's military assets are being deployed."

Turnbull said there was a strong momentum to find a political resolution to the Syrian conflict, notwithstanding the shooting down of the Russian plane.