David Cameron: Turkey must maintain communication with Russia over downed plane

David Cameron has urged his Turkish counterpart to ensure that Ankara maintains direct communications with Moscow to avoid an escalation in tensions after Turkish fighter jets shot down a Russian warplane.

Ahmet Davutoglu phoned Mr Cameron and explained that Turkey had taken protective action after the Russian jet was warned "several times" not to violate Turkish air space, said Downing Street.

As Nato held an emergency session in response to the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of "significant consequences for Russian-Turkish relations".

It is thought to be the first time a plane from a member state of the transatlantic alliance has shot down a Russian aircraft in half a century.