US President Barack Obama met religious leaders in Istanbul today as he sought to reach out to major faiths and unite religious moderates against extremism.
Mr Obama told the Muslim world yesterday the United States was not at war with Islam, using his first international tour to try to repair America's damaged image abroad.
He met representatives of the Jewish faith, Islam and various Christian churches at his hotel in Istanbul before visiting historical sites in Turkey's largest city.
Mr Obama is on the last leg of his debut trip on the world stage as president. He is trying to rebuild ties with Muslims after anger at the invasion of Iraq and war in Afghanistan, made more urgent by a resurgent al-Qaeda and Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.
"Let me say this as clearly as I can: The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam," he said in a speech to the Turkish parliament in the capital Ankara yesterday.
Reuters