Turkish president says U.S. Jerusalem decision "throws region into fire"

ANKARA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday criticized his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump's decision of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Addressing his supporters at Ankara airport prior to his historic visit to Greece, Erdogan said the move was "throwing the region into a circle of fire."

He added that political leaders should seek to achieve peace rather than stirring up destabilization.

Erdogan said he planned to talk with Pope Francis and leaders of Russia, France, Germany, Britain and Spain on this issue.

Erdogan also reiterated that leaders of the members of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an international organization of 57 Muslim countries, would meet in Istanbul next week to display joint action over Jerusalem.

Late Wednesday, thousands of people handing flags of Palestine demonstrated in front of the U.S. embassy in Ankara, protesting against the Jerusalem decision made by Trump.

Trump on Wednesday formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and instructed to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Enditem