Turkey backs Palestinians over holy site tensions

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Turkey stands behind Palestinians in their efforts to oppose what calls Israeli attempts to "reduce the Islamic character" of Jerusalem.

Davutoglu was speaking to reporters in the central Turkish city of Konya on Sunday, a day after meeting with exiled Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal.

Violent demonstrations led Israel in November to briefly restrict Muslim access to a holy site in Jerusalem that includes the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third most sacred place, and the ancient Hebrew Temple Mount, the holiest place in Judaism.

Davutoglu said: "Turkey won't accept any impositions concerning Al-Aqsa."