Ankara, Oct 22 (IANS/EFE): The Turkish government is still negotiating permission for the Kurdish Peshmerga troops from Iraq to cross through its territory to aid the Syrian city of Kobane which has been besieged for weeks by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, Turkish media reported Wednesday.

"Talks about their route are continuing. We won't publicise any details until they are finalised," said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to the daily Hurriyet newspaper.

Turkey has so far refused help to defend Kobane or allow others to do so, arguing that the city on its border was being ably defended by Syrian Kurds whom Ankara saw as terrorists.

"We would not want Kobane to fall, but we have a policy of principles. Only (the opposition) Free Syrian Army wants a democratic and united Syria. Most of the other groups are involved in terrorist activities," the minister said in relation to the various sides involved in Syria's civil war.

"We didn't promise anyone a corridor (to transfer military aid to Kobane)," Cavusoglu added, noting that Kobane can be legitimately defended only by the Free Syrian Army or the Peshmerga, the Iraqi Kurdish security forces.

Turkey said Monday that it would help the Peshmerga to be deployed in Kobane to strengthen the defence of the Kurds against the jihadis.

"Now, the Peshmerga wants to help Kobane through our territory. We consider this request to be a legitimate one. We take our steps wisely. We've been distributing humanitarian aid since the beginning and we will continue to do so," Cavusoglu told Hurriyet in a separate statement.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Tuesday that the authorisation to allow the Peshmerga to help Kobane was possible because it was part of the Iraqi armed forces and its existence was provided for in the constitution of that country.