UPDATE - Turkish FM, US counterpart meet in Washington

CHANGES HEAD, DECK, ADDS POMPEO REMARKS

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met Tuesday with his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo.

During their 45-minute meeting, they discussed bilateral and regional issues as well as the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In a press briefing following the meeting, Pompeo urged the opening of "additional channels" to address issues of concern to both Washington and Ankara.

"We discussed the Khashoggi case and the need to work together to deescalate the conflict in Syria, support the reinvigoration of the UN-led peace process and achieve a peaceful, lasting solution to the Syrian conflict," Pompeo said.

Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, went missing after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After initially saying he left the consulate alive, Saudi Arabia admitted weeks later that he was killed there.

On Nov. 1, Turkish and U.S. troops began joints patrols in Manbij, northeast of the Aleppo Governorate in Syria, as a part of an agreement that focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.

*Umar Farooq contributed to this story