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Turkey tells US not to leave power vacuum during withdrawal from Syria

Washington would leave about 400 US troops split between two Syrian regions, a reversal by President Donald Trump that could pave the way for US allies to keep troops in Syria, said US

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Damaged buildings in Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack. Russia and Syria have not yet allowed a fact-finding mission from the world's chemical weapons watchdog to enter Douma. (Photo: PTI)

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Last Updated : Feb 24 2019 | 12:39 AM IST

Turkey's defence minister told Pentagon officials there must not be a vacuum of power during the withdrawal of US forces from Syria, state-owned Anadolu news agency reportedon Saturday.

A senior US administration official said on Friday Washington would leave about 400 US troops split between two Syrian regions, a reversal by President Donald Trump that could pave the way for US allies to keep troops in Syria.

"We reminded our partners that there should be no vacuum of power in any way during the withdrawal," Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told Anadolu, describing his talks in the United States with acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan.

Trump had ordered the withdrawal of all 2,000 US troops Syria in December after saying they had defeated Islamic State militants in Syria. The abrupt decision sparked an outcry from allies and US lawmakers.