UPDATE - Turkey's president urges peace, reconciliation in Sudan

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By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Amid reports Sudan’s longtime leader has been removed from power, Turkey's president voiced hope Thursday that Sudan will handle its current process peacefully, in a spirit of "national reconciliation."

"I hope that Sudan gets through its current process in national reconciliation and peace," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Roch Marc Christian Kabore, Burkina Faso’s president, in Ankara.

Amid various accounts about Omar al-Bashir, the former president, there is no reliable information, Erdogan said.

He went on to say Turkey supports the continuation of “deep-rooted” relations with Sudan.

Earlier Thursday, the Sudanese army announced the “removal” of al-Bashir and the imposition of a two-year “transitional phase.”

Defense Minister Awad ibn Auf also announced the imposition of a one-month curfew and a three-month state of emergency in a televised statement.

Kabore said coups are put on trial in a democratic system. In a democratic sense, Burkina Faso strongly condemns any coup attempt in the Sudan.

It was the first official visit to Turkey from Burkina Faso at the presidential level.

- Relations with Africa

Turkey gives great importance to its relations with African countries. The exclusionary, arrogant and interfering attitudes towards the continental countries have no value in Turkey's eyes, Erdogan said.

African countries have enough experiences to find a solution for their own problems within their own values, sensitivities and dynamics, he added.

On the basis of mutual respect and equal partnership, Turkey is determined to further its cooperation with Burkina Faso and African countries.