Turkish action against IS in Syria 'unrealistic'

Turkey's foreign minister says it cannot be expected to lead a ground operation against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria on its own, the BBC reports.

Mevlut Cavusoglu also called for the creation of a no-fly zone over its border with Syria after talks in Ankara with new Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg.

"It is not realistic to expect Turkey to conduct a ground operation on its own," he told a news conference.

"We are holding talks. Once there is a common decision, Turkey will not hold back from playing its part."

Turkey is under intense pressure to do more to help Kurdish forces fighting IS in the strategic Syrian town of Kobane.

Reports say IS has been pushed back towards the outskirts of Kobane.

Earlier monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, quoting "reliable sources", said IS controlled a third of the town and was advancing towards the centre from eastern districts.