Turkey Holds Security Meeting

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey is holding a security meeting amid reports that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pushing for the creation of a buffer zone along the Turkish border with Syria.

Erdogan is chairing a regular National Security Council meeting on Monday, days after he vowed to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Syria following advances by Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State group militants.

The pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper said the military had been instructed to prepare to take a 110-kilometer long and 33-kilometer deep buffer along the Turkish border to prevent advances by both IS and the Kurds.

There has been no confirmation of the reports.

Turkey has unsuccessfully pressed the United States to enforce a safe area and a no-fly zone in Syria.

(KA)