TURKEY RELEASES AUDIO OF 'WARNING' TO DOWNED RUSSIAN JET

The Turkish military has released an audio recording of what it says were warnings to a Russian warplane before it was shot down on the Syrian border. 

"Change your heading south immediately," a voice says in English. Turkey said it had tried to rescue the SU-24 bomber's two pilots.

One of them was killed by gunfire as he parachuted from the burning plane.

The other pilot was rescued. He denied claims the jet had violated Turkish airspace and warnings had been given.

The plane crashed into a mountainside on Syrian soil after being hit by a missile from a Turkish F-16 fighter jet on Tuesday.

Tensions have escalated between the two countries over the incident, with Russian President Vladimir Putin describing it as a "stab in the back" and warning of "serious consequences".

Moscow later broke off military contacts with Ankara and said it would deploy its most advanced anti-aircraft missile system in Syria to destroy any target that may threaten its warplanes. It also said fighter jets would now escort its bombers during air strikes over Syria.

On Thursday, Russia said it would impose stricter controls on food and agriculture imports from Turkey. A Russian official said some 15% of Turkish agricultural produce fell short of Russian standards, with excessive levels of pesticides, nitrates and nitrites.

The US, the EU and the UN have all appealed for calm.

French President Francois Hollande is travelling to Moscow on Thursday to shore up support for action against the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, which killed 130 people in attacks in Paris earlier this month.
                                                                                   curled from BBC news