Turkey: Assad can be part of transition in Syria

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says his country is willing to accept a role for Syrian President Bashar Assad during a transitional period in Syria.

However, Yildirim told foreign media representatives on Saturday that Assad has no place in Syria's future.

The Turkish prime minister also said that Turkey would aim to become more of a regional player with regard to Syria in the next six months, Tasnim News citing AP reported.

On Syria's future, Yildirim said Turkey would not allow the country to be ethnically divided and favored a system in which all ethnic groups are represented.

Turkey is one of the main supporters of militants fighting to overthrow Assad, and hosts more than 2.7 million Syrian refugees.

MG