Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again called on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to stop using violence against anti-government protestors.

Speaking at the meeting of religious leaders from Muslim countries and communities in Africa, Erdogan said he himself would not maintain rule by using military force against his own people, Today’s Zaman reports.

“If you have self-confidence as a leader, you go to the ballot boxes. Everyone heads to ballot boxes and you take over rule if these ballot boxes give you power. Then you can rule your country. But you cannot maintain your rule with tanks and weapons. You will also leave one day. ... We have told him this many times,” the newspaper quotes Turkish PM.

Last week Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey favors more effective sanctions against Syrian leadership, particularly in the economic sphere.