Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 26 (PTI) US President Barack Obama spoke to Turkish Prime Minister Recap Tayyip Erdogan and the two leaders agreed that Muammar Gaddafi should step down and also termed the Syrian government's use of violence against its own people as 'unacceptable', the White House said.

The leaders agreed that attacks against civilians must stop and that Gaddafi must step down and depart Libya permanently in order for there to be a lasting solution that reflects the will of the Libyan people, the White House said in a statement after the telephonic conversation between the two leaders.

"President Obama and Prime Minister Erdogan expressed deep concern about the Syrian government's unacceptable use of violence against its own people," it said.

The leaders agreed that the Syrian government must end the use of violence now and promptly enact meaningful reforms that respect the democratic aspirations of Syrian citizens," it said.