The foreign ministry official said Tuesday that Ahmet Davutoglu told members of the council in Ankara late Monday that the group should work for democratic change “in a peaceful manner.”

He also condemned the killing of Syrian human rights activist Ziad Al-Obeidi, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with ministry regulations.

The Syrian National Council, a broad-based opposition umbrella group, was formed in Istanbul in September. No country has recognized it so far as a legal representative of the country. Syria has threatened tough measures against any country that does.