Turkey's Erdogan says UN must decide on any Syria no-fly zone

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Speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington a day after discussing Syria with President Barack Obama, Erdogan said a no-fly zone could be discussed at a planned international conference on Syria backed by Washington and Moscow.

"It is not a decision that could be taken between the United States and Turkey. It is something that would have to come through the U.N. Security Council," Erdogan said.

"We are in the process of putting together a conference in Geneva ... If that process decides on such a zone, as Turkey we would also do whatever is necessary," he said.

Western leaders have been cautious about the prospects of the planned talks in Geneva achieving any breakthrough, and Russia's desire that Iran should attend could complicate matters because of potential opposition from the West.

Iran is a U.S. foe and the main regional ally of Assad's government, which has also received support from Russia.

The main Syrian opposition, expected to decide its stance next week, has previously demanded President Bashar al-Assad's exit before any talks, something which Erdogan reinforced.

"President Obama talked yesterday about a process without Assad ... Having a transition with Assad in place cannot be a solution and the opposition wouldn't accept it in any case," Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader, who has grown frustrated at a lack of decisive international action on Syria, said he planned to travel to Moscow and to Gulf states after his visit to Washington and that he supported Russia and China's involvement in the planned peace conference.

(Reporting by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Eric Beech and Jackie Frank)

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