LOC01:18
22:18 GMT
ISTANBUL, Aug 24 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday reaffirmed opposition to a future role for President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria.
Syria could never "reach democracy" under Al-Assad's leadership, Erdogan old a press conference with visiting US Vice-President Joe Biden, who was in the capital Ankara for a day-long visit.
Meanwhile, he said that the Turkey' Operation Euphrates Shield in the northern Syrian city of Jarabulus, which started early Wednesday, aims to support the international coalition and Fre Syria Army (FSA).
Jarabulus is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border.
He said the so-called Islamic State (IS), or Daesh, had been forced to flee Jarabulus following Turkey's operation.
"Members of the Free Syrian Army and Jarabulus residents have recaptured Jarabulus," jhe said.
In reference to the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is reportedly fighting Daesh in Syria, Erdogan said: "One terrorist organization fighting with another one does not justify it."
On the failed coup in the country in July, Erdogan said the main priority for Turkey was the extradition of Fetullah Gulen as soon as possible.
He said that he told Biden that the US could "at least" detain Gulen, whom the Turkish government blames for the deadly July 15 coup attempt, in which at least 240 people were killed.
For his part, the US Vice-President stressed that that only a federal court could extradite Gulen, and that President Barack Obama had no constitutional authority to do so.
"Even as [we] speak, our American experts are on the ground here in Ankara, meeting with your people, closely coordinating with our Turkish counterparts to evaluate and gather material with regard to Turkish request to extradite Gulen in accordance our bilateral extradition treaty," he said.
"We have more lawyers working on this case than any other extradition in recent history," Biden added.
Earlier today, Biden arrived in Ankara and met Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. (pick up previous)
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