Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Dec. 14

ANKARA -- The deal of Turkey's purchase of S-400 missile defense system from Russia "might be" finalized this week, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday.

"There is no problem with the S-400 deal. It maybe signed this week," Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his Maltese counterpart Carmelo Abela in Ankara. (Turkey-Russia-Missile)

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RAMALLAH/GAZA -- The Palestinian government called Thursday for international protection of the the Palestinian people over "the continued escalation due to the occupation."

Government spokesperson Yousef Al-Mahmoud denounced the "incursion of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Jewish groups" besides the Israeli raids into two university campuses in the West Bank where it seized documents and books, according to a press statement. (Palestinians-Israel-Tension)

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ANKARA -- Turkey will open embassy in East Jerusalem after members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) declared the city the capital of Palestine, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

"Recognition of the Palestinian state is in line with UN decisions. We will strive for recognition of East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital," Cavusoglu was quoted by Daily Sabah as saying. (Turkey-Jerusalem-Embassy)

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ADEN, Yemen -- A total of 12 Yemeni civilians were killed and several others injured during air bombardment conducted by Saudi-led warplanes in the southwestern province of Taiz on Thursday, a military official told Xinhua.

The Saudi-led aircrafts targeted with a number of air raids a bridge linking between Barah and Makbana in Taiz province, causing casualties among civilians, the military official said on condition of anonymity. (Yemen-Saudi-Bombing) Enditem