Erdogan: Turkey is ready to take over Syria's Manbij

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Turkey has told the United States that it is ready to take over security in the Syrian city of Manbij without delay, according to the Turkish presidency.

The message was conveyed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump late Sunday.

The two leaders agreed to accelerate talks between their chiefs of staff regarding a safe zone in northern Syria, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as a military team moves the transfer case containing the remains of a soldier who was killed by a suicide bomber on January 16 in Manbij, Syria, at Dover Air Force Base, January 19, 2019, in Dover, Delaware. /VCG Photo

The Manbij bomb attack that left four U.S. soldiers dead on Thursday was a provocation aimed to hinder U.S. withdrawal from Syria, Erdogan said.

Trump stressed "the importance of defeating terrorist elements" in Syria, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a readout of the call.

The White House added that the two leaders agreed to keep pursuing a negotiated settlement for northeastern Syria that meets both countries' security needs, as well as their mutual interest in expanding U.S.-Turkish trade.

They also agreed to jointly clear ISIL remnants in Syria and prevent their return.

Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed the U.S. proposal for a 32-km safe zone inside northeastern Syria and stressed that the zone will be set up and controlled by Turkey.

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency