UPDATE -'Extradition request a test for Czech Republic'

UPDATE WITH PM'S REMARKS ON EASTERN GHOUTA

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s prime minister on Monday called on the Czech Republic to extradite Salih Muslim, former co-leader of the terrorist group PYD/PKK.

"Today is exam day for our NATO ally the Czech Republic," Binali Yildirim told his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday.

"I hope the Czech Republic sees the sense in fighting terrorism, and extradites this terrorist in solidarity with us," he added.

Yildirim said Turkey has taken the necessary steps for the terrorist’s extradition.

After Czech security forces arrested Muslim on Sunday, Turkish justice and security officials began drawing up the extradition request.

Muslim is being sought on charges of disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state, homicide, attempted homicide, damaging public property, and transporting a hazardous substance.

Turkish officials have complained that EU member states and other countries often fail to honor its extradition requests.

The Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch is currently working to clear Afrin, northwestern Syria -- just across the Turkish border -- of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists.

- 'Don't mix up Turkey's operation with Ghouta massacres'

Yildirim urged the world not to confuse Turkey’s counter-terrorist Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Syria with the recent carnage in Syria’s besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta.

Yildirim said that the UN Security Council resolution calling for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria does not apply to Turkey's Afrin operation.

"Because Turkey isn’t carrying out an operation to clear out civilians, but to clear out bloody terrorist groups to rescue the civilians living there," said Yildirim.

Turkey’s operation launched on Jan. 20 to clear PYD/YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from the border, protecting both Turkish and Syrian civilians, while taking extra care to make sure no civilians are harmed in the counter-terrorist push.

"The main objective of the UN resolution is not the operations carried out against terrorist groups, but preventing the massacres of civilians in Eastern Ghouta," Yildirim added.

The UN Security Council on Saturday adopted a resolution calling for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria "without delay".

On Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said Russia would introduce a daily humanitarian pause in eastern Ghouta as of Feb. 27 by order of President Vladimir Putin.

Yildirim said that Turkey welcomed the UN Security Council resolution on Syria.

On the Syrian regime's attacks on Eastern Ghouta despite the cease-fire, Yildirim said: "There are serious claims that chemical weapons were used there."

Eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb, has been under siege for the last five years and humanitarian access to the area, which is home to some 400,000 people, has been completely cut off.

In the past eight months, Assad regime forces have intensified their siege of Eastern Ghouta, making it nearly impossible for food or medicine to get into the district, and leaving thousands of patients in need of treatment.

Since Feb. 19, escalating hostilities have resulted in 500 deaths and some 1,500 injuries in Eastern Ghouta, with 24 health facilities impacted by shelling and airstrikes, according to UN officials.

Syria has been locked in a devastating conflict since early 2011 when the regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.

According to UN officials, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict to date.