US Offers To Help Probe Russian Envoy's Assassination

Washington, United States: The United States moved quickly on Monday to condemn the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey and to offer to help investigate the attack.

"The United States condemns the assassination today in Ankara of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov," US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, the Russian people, and with the other victims who were injured in this shooting.

"We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack," he added.

Kerry branded the murder "an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world."

Advertisement

The US State Department has not said 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.

Advertisement

Washington previously has warned Moscow that its support for Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime risks radicalizing moderate rebels and boosting support for extremists.