NATO calls 'extraordinary meeting' after Turkey downs Russian jet

Brussels (AFP) - NATO allies will hold an "extraordinary" meeting Tuesday at Ankara's request to discuss Turkey's shooting down of a Russian fighter jet along the Syrian border, an alliance official said.

"At the request of Turkey, the North Atlantic Council will hold an extraordinary meeting at (1600 GMT). The aim of this extraordinary NAC is for Turkey to inform Allies about the downing of a Russian airplane," the official told AFP.

The North Atlantic Council consists of ambassadors from the 28 NATO member states.

Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft shot down the plane after it violated Turkish airspace near the country's border with Syria.

Turkey released this radar map which it claims is proof the Su-24 warplane crossed into airspace under Turkey's control.

Nato spokeswoman Carmen Romero said: "Nato is monitoring the situation closely. We are in close contact with Turkish authorities."

The Russian Ministry of Defence released the following statement:

"Today an aircraft from the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic crashed on the territory of Syria supposedly shot down from the ground.

The aircraft was flying at the altitude of 6,000 metres. The status of the Russian pilots is being defined.

According to the preliminary data, the pilots managed to eject from the warplane.

The circumstances of the crash are being defined.

During all the flight time, the aircraft was flying only within the borders of the Syrian territory. That was registered by objective monitoring data."

A Kremlin spokesman told Reuters it was a "very serious incident" but Russia says it is too early to draw conclusions about the crash.

Last month Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said his nation would not hesitate to shoot down aircraft that violated its airspace.