Turkish PM in Syria for regional talks with Assad

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Iraqi conflict and Lebanon's power struggle with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Wednesday as part of Turkey's effort to play a greater role in regional affairs. Erdogan, who flew to Syria early Wednesday, was making his second diplomatic initiative in the region in four days after a visit to Iran. Before leaving Turkey, the prime minister said his talks in Damascus would focus on many of the issues he discussed with the Iranian government, such as the rising tension in Lebanon, the insurgency in Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was met at Damascus airport by Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otari and driven to see President Assad.