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White House: Obama, Erdogan discuss Syrian situation in phone call

Xinhua, February 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday spoke to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan by telephone about the situation in Syria.

"President Obama expressed concern about recent Syrian regime advances in northwest Syria and urgently called for a halt to actions that heighten tensions with Turkey and with moderate opposition forces in northern Syria," White House said in a press release.

Obama also stressed that the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) forces should not seek to exploit circumstances in this area to seize additional territory, according to the statement.

He also "urged Turkey to show reciprocal restraint by ceasing artillery strikes in the area."

In addition, Obama underscored the "collective efforts in northern Syria to degrade and defeat" the Islamic State.

Obama also offered his condolences for the Feb. 17 terrorist attack in Turkish capital Ankara and Feb. 18 terrorist attack against a Turkish military convoy in the country's southeastern Diyarbakir Province. Endi