US, Turkey discuss tactics to end Syrian crisis
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The leaders of the United States and Turkey have met to discuss tactics to free Syria from the "tyranny" of Bashar al-Assad.
In a meeting at the White House, Barack Obama and Recep Tayyip Erdogan also discussed efforts to strengthen Syria's opposition.
"We both agree that Assad needs to go. He needs to transfer power to a transitional body, that is the only way that we are going to resolve this crisis," Mr Obama said.
"And we're going to keep working for a Syria that is free from Assad's tyranny.
"There is no magic formula for dealing with an extraordinarily violent and difficult situation like Syria's."
Neither leader mentioned that their preferences for handling Syria's civil war remain far apart.
Mr Erdogan called for more aggressive steps to end the Mr Assad regime's grip on power.
The US has provided rebel forces with food, medical supplies and defensive equipment such as body armour.
But Mr Obama has balked at providing arms and ammunition to the guerrillas, fearing they could fall into the hands of extremist elements linked to Al Qaeda.
He is now pinning hopes on the peace conference jointly organised by Russia.
He has said that Washington has a moral and national security incentive to stop the killing, but has demanded more evidence to stand up reports that Syrian forces have used chemical weapons, crossing a US red line.
But Mr Erdogan insisted: "Let me first of all say that chemical weapons and missiles, rockets, all that, have been fired."
"All that information is shared between the relevant bodies within our administrations and it's not just Turkey and the United States," he said, noting that Britain and France had condemned Syrian use of chemical arms.
Diplomacy
Turkey is sceptical that the peace conference the US is planning with Mr Assad's main ally Moscow will produce the kind of road map to a political transition - while keeping Syria intact - that Washington wants.
"We will continue to discuss this issue in greater detail in our meeting this evening," Mr Erdogan said.
"Let me tell you that ending this bloody process in Syria and meeting the legitimate demands of the people by establishing a new government are two areas where we are in full agreement with the United States."
There was little sign of Moscow's position softening, with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov declaring that Iran, Mr Assad's closest regional ally, should have a seat at the conference table.
Mr Erdogan is now under intense domestic pressure on Syria, following deadly attacks in the Turkish border town of Reyhanli that Ankara has blamed on terrorists with links to the Damascus regime.
According to rights activists, more than 94,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which erupted in March 2011 when the regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against what started out as a peaceful uprising.
Mr Obama also vowed to support Turkey in its struggle to cope with a flood of Syrian refugees.
ABC/AFP
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