Turkey rejects calls for ceasefire in Syria
Donald Trump has asked Turkey's leader Recep Erdogan to end military actions in Syria. Turkey started attacking towns in northern Syria last week after the USA pulled out a group of its troops. Turkey launched attacks on Kurdish fighters to create a buffer zone on its border. Mr Trump called for an immediate ceasefire and for talks with the Kurds. US Vice-President told President Erdogan: "The USA wants Turkey to stop the invasion, implement an immediate ceasefire and to begin to negotiate with Kurdish forces in Syria to bring an end to the violence". President Erdogan said Turkey would go ahead with its offensive in Syria, despite calls from around the world to stop. He said: "We will never declare a ceasefire. The USA is pressuring us to stop the operation. It is announcing sanctions. Our goal is clear. We are not worried about any sanctions." He added: "The international community missed its opportunity to prevent the Syrian crisis from pulling an entire region into a maelstrom of instability." He said the European Union and the world should support Turkey. Mr Trump said: "It is not our problem. It is time for us to go home." |