Qatar- US Turkish Presidents Discuss Troops Issue in Northern Iraq

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Ankara December 19 (QNA) - US President Barack Obama asked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take additional steps in order to ease the tension with Baghdad with regards to the Turkish troops in the northern part of Iraq.
The two leaders discussed the recent developments between Turkey and Iraq as they spoke over the phone late Friday Turkish presidential sources said according to Anadolu Agency (AA).
Erdogan reiterated that Turkish troops in northern Iraq were there to fight against the ISIS. Turkey supports and respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq he added.
Their conversation came after Turkish troops were wounded when a training base in northern Iraq was hit by ISIS on Wednesday.
They agreed that Turkey the US and Iraq should cooperate to fight against ISIS in the region.
The presence of Turkish troops in Bashiqa had created tension between Ankara and Baghdad. Turkish authorities have continuously said the troops were there as part of the fight against terrorism. (QNA)