Syria calls for UN action as Turkey continues attacks on Kurdish forces

Syria has condemned Turkish military action against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria and described it as a violation of its sovereignty and called on the UN Security Council to take action.

Turkey carried out a second day of shelling on Sunday of Kurdish forces advancing in northern Aleppo province.

Ankara views the Kurdish militia in Syria as allied to the outlawed PKK, which has carried out a decades-long campaign for autonomy in Turkey.

But the United States and others back the Kurdish militia in Syria, the YPG, in its fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.

Syria has accused Turkey of violating its sovereignty by backing "al-Qaeda-linked terrorists" in the north and has warned it has a right to respond.

"Turkish artillery shelling of Syrian territory constitutes direct support to the armed terrorist organisations," the Syrian government said in letters to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council's Chairman.

The letters accused Turkey of allowing about 100 gunmen - believed to be either "Turkish soldiers or Turkish mercenaries" - to cross into Syria.

"[Syria] will maintain its legitimate right to respond to the Turkish crimes and attacks and to claim compensation for the damage caused."

France's foreign ministry has also urged Turkey to end its assault on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.