Turkey says Erdogan and Trump to hold telephone conversation

by Dramelin 7:00 AM 0 comments

Turkish officials say President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump ? their first since the American leader took office. Turkey has also been angered by U.S. support to Syrian Kurdish militia fighting the Islamic State group ? considered as "terrorists" by Ankara because of their links Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Officials from Erdogan`s office said Tuesday the conversation would take place shortly after midnight (2100 GMT). They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations. Turkey`s relations with the United States under the Obama administration have been strained, with Ankara frequently expressing frustrations over what it perceives as U.S. reluctance to extradite U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating the failed July 15 military coup.