Turkey would never start a war - Erdogan

EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL

The border between Turkey and Syria is calm Friday morning... but doesn't reflect the growing tension between governments on either side.

On Thursday, the Turkish parliament approved measures allowing Turkish troops beyond its borders if deemed necessary.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erodgan said the decision was only a precautionary one and that he is not condoning war.

(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING:

"Turkey wants peace and only peace in the region, as well as safety. That is our sole concern. We don't want war and we never would. The consequence of the wars in the region, in Iraq and Afghanistan is obvious. We are also aware of the price Syria has paid in 1.5 year."

Earlier in the week, five Turkish civilians were killed when Syrian mortar fire destroyed a Turkish neighbourhood.

And although Turks had voiced widespread support for retaliation for the incident... fears of greater military involvement in Syria's civil war prompted thousands of Turks into the streets of Istanbul for an anti-war protest.

Activists say some 30,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began over a year ago.