Erdogan vows to oust Syrian Kurds

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his military “won’t stop” efforts to oust Syrian Kurdish fighters from Syria’s north, as the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran met for talks on the conflict.

The three countries, which have teamed up to work for a Syria settlement despite their differences, reaffirmed their commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and the continuation of local ceasefires.

They called on the international community to provide more aid for the war-ravaged country.

Mr Erdogan, Vladimir Putin of Russia and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani were holding their second summit to discuss Syria’s future since attending a similar meeting in Sochi, Russia, in November.

Mr Erdogan said Turkish troops, which last month took control of the northwestern enclave of Afrin, would move eastward into Manbij and other areas controlled by the Usbacked Peoples’ Protection Units, or YPG, a group which Turkey considers to be terrorists.