Turkish PM: No solution for Syria while Assad still in power

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must relinquish power as part of any peace deal to end the country's five-year civil war.

In recent days, Yildirim had said Ankara would seek good relations with Syria after diplomatic successes with Israel and Russia, raising speculation of a possible change in Turkish policy towards its southern neighbour.

Turkey has long been one of Assad's staunchest opponents since the war began, supporting rebel groups fighting to depose Assad.

in an interview with the BBC broadcast late on Wednesday, Yildirim said Assad had to go because with him in charge, the conflict would not be solved.

"On one hand, there's Assad and on the other, Daesh [the Islamic State (IS) group]. If you ask, should we prefer Assad or Daesh, we cannot choose one over the other. They both have to go - they're both trouble for Syrians," he said.

"Let's imagine we got rid of Daesh, the problem still won't be solved. As long as Assad is there, the problem won't be solved. Another terrorist organisation would emerge."

Yildirim also accused the Assad government of creating IS through an alleged policy of killing its own citizens deliberately.

On Wednesday, Yildirim had told his party's provincial leaders in Ankara that he was sure Turkey would "normalise" relations with Syria.

But he told the BBC: "Things must change in Syria but first Assad must change. Unless Assad changes, nothing changes."

The Syrian conflict has left more than 280,000 people dead, although Yildirim said half a million had been killed.

Millions more have been forced to flee their homes inside and outside the country, with Turkey currently hosting about 2.5m refugees.