"I would like to commend the Turkish government for the restraint it has shown in its response to the completely unacceptable Syrian attacks"

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned Tuesday against the dangers of the conflict in Syria escalating, saying alliance member Turkey had shown commendable restraint in response to shelling of its border area.

"I would like to commend the Turkish government for the restraint it has shown in its response to the completely unacceptable Syrian attacks," Rasmussen said as he went into a two-day NATO defense ministers meeting.

"Obviously Turkey has a right to defend herself within international law," he said, noting that the alliance too has "all necessary plans in place to protect and to defend Turkey if necessary."We hope it won't be necessary, we hope that both countries will show restraint and avoid an escalation of the crisis," he added.

Reports in Ankara Tuesday said Turkey's top military commander General Necdet Ozel had inspected troops in southeastern Hatay province near the Syrian border, a day after a Syrian shell landed in a nearby town.