Europe

Erdogan says Turkey killed 3,000 IS extremists

Associated Press
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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, poses for photographs with military chiefs of Balkan nations following his speech at their conference, in Istanbul Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Erdogan said Turkish forces have killed some 3,000 Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, insisting that no other country has matched Turkey's efforts against the extremist group. At the same meeting earlier however, the Turkish military chief, put the number of IS militants killed Syria and Iraq at 1,300. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre, poses for photographs with military chiefs of Balkan nations following his speech at their conference, in Istanbul Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Erdogan said Turkish forces have killed some 3,000 Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, insisting that no other country has matched Turkey's efforts against the extremist group. At the same meeting earlier however, Turkey's Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, left, put the number of IS militants killed Syria and Iraq at 1,300. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre, talks with Turkey's Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, left, as he poses for photographs with military chiefs of Balkan nations following his speech at their conference, in Istanbul Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Erdogan said Turkish forces have killed some 3,000 Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, insisting that no other country has matched Turkey's efforts against the extremist group. At the same meeting earlier however, Akar, left, put the number of IS militants killed Syria and Iraq at 1,300. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkish forces have killed some 3,000 Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, insisting that no other country has matched Turkey's efforts against the extremist group.

In an address to the military chiefs of Balkan nations on Wednesday, Erdogan also denounced nations who have accused Turkey of supporting IS as "vile."

At the same meeting earlier, the Turkish military chief, put the number of IS militants killed Syria and Iraq at 1,300. Erdogan's aides could not immediately be reached to explain the differing figures.

Erdogan said: "There have been those who have ... been vile by showing Turkey as a country that helps Daesh (Islamic State). No country in the world has conducted the struggle we are conducting."