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Published time: 22 Nov, 2017 15:41 Edited time: 23 Nov, 2017 14:19

An all-Syrian congress which will see wide representation of the countrys opposition is to be held in Sochi, Vladimir Putin said after talks with the Turkish and Iranian presidents, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani, who backed the idea.

The presidents of Iran and Turkey supported the initiative to convene an all-Syrian forum-congress of the national dialogue in Syria. We agreed to hold this important event at the proper level and ensure the participation of representatives of different sectors of Syrian society, Putin said after the talks in Sochi on Wednesday.

Weve tasked the Foreign Ministries, the representatives of special services and Defense Departments to work out the list of participants and the timing of the congress to be held here, in Sochi," the Russian president added.

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The all-Syrian congress is aimed at gathering delegates from various political parties, internal and external opposition, ethnic and confessional groups at the negotiating table, Putin said.

Success on the battlefield has paved the way for a new stage of the peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis, the Russian leader added.

In our common opinion, the success on the battlefield that brings closer the liberation of the whole of Syrian territory from the militants paves the way for a qualitatively new stage in the settlement of the crisis. Im talking about the real prospects of achieving a long-term, comprehensive normalization in Syria, political adjustment in the post-conflict period, Putin said.

The Russian president also said that he and his counterparts see the potential for a long-term, comprehensive political settlement in Syria. The talks in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi lasted two hours, with Putin saying that they were detailed and included all aspects of the Syrian settlement.

Putin said that he informed Erdogan and Rouhani about the results of his talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, which took place in Sochi on Monday. He added that he told the Turkish and Iranian presidents about the commitment of the Syrian leadership to the principles of peaceful settlement of the political crisis, its readiness to carry out constitutional reform and stage a free, UN-supervised election.

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Andrew Brunson, from North Carolina, is in a Turkish prison on terrorism charges that his family calls "totally false." Courtesy of American Center for Law and Justice hide caption

Andrew Brunson, from North Carolina, is in a Turkish prison on terrorism charges that his family calls "totally false."

It's been nearly a year since Turkey detained American pastor Andrew Brunson and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says if the U.S. wants Brunson freed, it should extradite an elderly Turkish cleric living in the U.S., whom Erdogan accuses of organizing last year's failed coup attempt.

"Erdogan has voiced frustration with American demands for more evidence pointing to Gulen's involvement in the coup effort," NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Istanbul.

Peter relays Erdogan's words in a speech at a police academy Thursday: "You have a pastor too," Erdogan said, adding, "You give us that one and we'll work with our judiciary and give back yours."

Brunson's case has been called a priority for President Trump's administration. Vice President Mike Pence has written to Brunson's family; Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Brunson's wife, Norine, in Ankara in March. Tillerson also discussed the case with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Brunson, 48, is an evangelical Presbyterian from North Carolina who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades. He was arrested last October during the crackdown that followed a military faction's attempt to overthrow Erdogan in July. Since then, he's been accused of being part of an armed terrorist group; one month ago, he was charged with espionage and attempting to overthrow the government.

The cleric Turkey wants to get its hands on is Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic scholar in his late 70s who lives in a compound in Saylorsburg, Pa., in the Pocono Mountains.

"Gulen, who is said to have millions of supporters in Turkey, has steadfastly denied any responsibility for the coup," NPR reported in July of 2017, "but Turkey is demanding his extradition from the U.S., where he has lived since the late 1990s."

Speaking to NPR earlier this year, Gulen denied being behind the coup attempt.

"To this day, I have stood against all coups," Gulen said. He added, "if I were to humor that idea, if any one among those soldiers had called me and told me of their plan, I would tell them, 'You are committing murder.' "

When asked about Turkey's attempt to extradite him, Gulen said, "I think the United States is mindful of its reputation for its democracy and rule of law, and if they are willing to risk that reputation by extraditing me based on the request and claims made by Turkey, I would never say no. I would go willingly."

He also spoke about what his final wish would be if he were to be condemned to die: "I would say the person who caused all this suffering and oppressed thousands of innocents, I want to spit in his face."

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Published time: 18 Nov, 2017 03:34 Edited time: 18 Nov, 2017 07:36

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Washington of betraying Ankara and providing "a lot of dollars" to the Islamic State terrorists. The allegation comes just days after the US acknowledged that it allowed hundreds of armed ISIS militants to escape the besieged Syrian city of Raqqa.

"That's the headline. But what did you do? You paid a lot of dollars to [ISIS]," Erdogan said, as cited by AFP.

Its not the first time Erdogan has called out Washington for enabling terrorists. Last December, the Turkish president caused quite a stir in the media, claiming that Turkey had confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos, of the US supporting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL) and Kurdish militias, outlawed as terrorist in Turkey.

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Erdogan's comments come just days after the BBC revealed on Monday that the US-backed SDF allowed hundreds of ISIS militants to escape Raqqa with the silent approval of their coalition allies that preferred not to intervene. Truck drivers interviewed by the BBC said they were offered thousands of dollars to secretly transport ISIS fighters and tons of weapons and ammunition out of the city. At the time of the exodus, neither SDF, nor the coalition acknowledged their involvement in the deal, reportedly struck by local officials mid-October.

When confronted by the BBC, US-led coalition spokesman Col Ryan Dillon admitted that a Western officer was present as the deal was being arranged, but didnt take an active part in the talks, he told the BBC. While the extent of the US involvement in the deal is up to speculation, Dillon noted that part of the agreement was to allow the coalition to screen the ISIS-aged males and civilians. However, only four foreign fighters were detained by the SDF from some 3,500 people, 300 of which were identified as potential ISIS fighters, Dilon said.

READ MORE:Erdogan slams US for arming terrorists after Washington cancels $1.2mn Turkey weapons deal

Then on Tuesday,Moscow accused US forces of refusing to carry out airstrikes against ISIS convoys retreating from the eastern Syrian city of Abu-Kamal. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that it twice asked the US-led coalition to strike the convoys with the US side categorically refusing to do so, the ministry said, attaching photos purportedly showing ISIS convoys leaving the city unhindered.

Aside from sparing the ISIS militants, the coalition warplanes have also been hampering the Russian Air Forces operation in support of the Syrian military, the ministry claimed, noting that in accordance with the prior agreement the coalition aircraft should not have been flying in the area.

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This is hardly the first time Moscow has accused Washington of tolerating ISISs presence in Syria. In September, Russias Defense Ministry has released aerial images allegedly proving that US Army special units provide free passage for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) through the battle formations of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists.

The Turkish president also slammed Washington for its ongoing support of Kurdish groups fighting in Syria despite promises that they would be withdrawn from liberated cities.

"It was a big disappointment for us that America has not kept its promises, to a large extent, since the start of the Syrian crisis," said Erdogan, claiming that the previous US administration pledged to not let YPG fighters to take Raqqa, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor.

"We don't want to enter into the same game in Afrin. A problem that we could solve quite easily together as allies is being dragged out by American intransigence," he added, as cited by AFP.

READ MORE:Turkey's Erdogan: 'Confirmed evidence' US-led coalition supports ISIS & other terrorists in Syria

Disagreements over the status and future of Syria's Kurds have strained relations between Ankara and Washington. Turkey views the Kurdish YPG militia, which is backed by the US-led coalition, as a terrorist organization.

Washington has stressed that while its aware of Turkeys security concerns, its policy of arming the Kurds is necessary to ensure a clear victory in Raqqa.

Ankara claims that the US-backed YPG is not fighting ISIS in Raqqa but instead aiming to capture the city and engaged in regional cooperation with the so-called caliphate.

More recently, Erdogan has warned that the Turkish military may intervene to close the "terrorist corridor" in Syria's Afrin region, which borders Turkey and is currently controlled by Kurdish groups.

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U.S. President Donald Trump heaped praise on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday, comments that came amid international condemnation of Erdogans crackdown on political dissent and just months after Turkish security officials beat up protesters during a visit to the U.S.

Trump said it was a great honor to host Erdogan Thursday for a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said that the Turkish president "is becoming a friend of mine" and that he is running a very difficult part of the world.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with Donald Trump on Sept. 21.

Photogrpaher: Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

"Frankly hes getting very high marks, Trump said, sparing Erdogan any public admonition over international concerns about election violations and human-rights abuses. "Hes also been working with the United States, Trump said. "We have a great friendship and the countries -- I think were right now as close as weve ever been. Trump added that "a lot of that has to do with a personal relationship."

After a failed coup last year, Erdogan gained sweeping powersin April after a close referendum that critics alleged was fraudulent. A Council of Europe agency has put Turkey on its watchlist, saying crackdowns on opponents have compromised human rights and the rule of law. Erdogan also has detained or fired thousands of people under suspicion they were part of the coup attempt.

Turkeys army has been fighting Islamic State jihadists and Kurdish militants in northern Syria. Erdogan, speaking this week at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York, said Turkey is prepared to send more troops into Syria. Still, Erdogans government increasingly has been working with Russia and Iran on stabilization efforts that may bolster President Bashar al-Assad.

With assistance by John Micklethwait, Selcan Hacaoglu, Firat Kozok, and Onur Ant

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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a Turkish-American meeting in New York, Thursday. Protesters disrupted his speech before being ejected from the hall. AP hide caption

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a Turkish-American meeting in New York, Thursday. Protesters disrupted his speech before being ejected from the hall.

Protesters were forcibly ejected from a speech by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York City on Thursday, in the latest U.S. confrontation involving protests against Turkey's leader.

Erdogan was speaking to an audience at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square when, as the AP reports, someone shouted "Terrorist!"

As shouting continued and security personnel grappled with protesters, Erdogan paused onstage before blaming the interruption on "a few impertinent hall terrorists."

The protesters were eventually forced out of the event but not before being roughed up.

The violence was captured on video by people who were at the event as well as news agencies that were covering Erdogan's speech. Footage posted by Voice of America's Turkish agency shows groups of men in suits forcing people out of the hall and in at least two cases, protesters were hit in the head while being held.

The AP reports:

"It was unclear whether the men in suits who ejected the demonstrator from the hall were U.S. Secret Service agents, private security guards hired for the event or members of Erdogan's security detail. But it did not appear that Turkish security officials were involved, the U.S. Department of State said."

The video also shows that members of the audience took swipes at the protesters as they were being taken out, striking out at them with their hands and with small Turkish flags that were supported by plastic rods.

Erdogan has been in New York to attend this week's session of the U.N. General Assembly. He was speaking Thursday at an event held by the Turkish American National Steering Committee.

"My dear friends, I have a request to you," Erdogan said as he sought to focus attention back onto the stage. "Let's not give this beautiful gathering to a few impertinent hall terrorists."

When Erdogan visited Washington, D.C., in May, protesters gathered at the ambassador's residence, and the situation devolved into an altercation with the Turkish leader's bodyguards who were seen on video pushing past D.C. police to attack protesters, nine of whom were left injured.

In June, Washington's Metropolitan Police issued 18 arrest warrants over the incident. The list of suspects included 12 Turkish security officials.

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