Obama, Erdogan speak on the phone about Syria, African famine

President Barrack Obama yesterday telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders exchanged opinions on regional issues, recent developments in Syria, and the famine crisis in Africa. Obama and Erdogan stressed in their conversation that the bloodshed and violence against civilians in Syria should end, adding that President Bashar Assad's actions over the next several days should be carefully followed and that nations need to take a proper stance. "The parties called attention to the urgency of developments in Syria, expressed their deep concerns over the Syrian government's violence against civilians, and touched on the importance of meeting the people's rightful requests for democratization," said the Prime Minister's Press Center in a statement. "Both sides agreed to continue to closely follow the steps taken by the Syrian government."