Turkey's Erdogan says Mosul has been left in ruins
Turkey's President Erdogan has welcomed Iraq's victory over Islamic State militants in Mosul but has questioned who will foot the bill for the war-torn city's reconstruction.
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Erdogan has questioned how the city will be rebuilt [Getty]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed the victory of Iraqi troops over Islamic State militants in Mosul, but said the city has been left in ruins.
He said Turkey is "very happy about the news that a conclusion [in the battle for] Mosul is being reached" but cautioned that "the point which Mosul as reached is very important".
"We have been left with a Mosul in ruins," he said on Monday, speaking to a World Petroleum Congress meeting in Istanbul.
"Who will meet the cost of rebuilding Mosul for the people of Mosul?" he added.
The Turkish leader reiterated the importance of maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and said a planned independence referendum by Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region would harm Iraq's future.
He said Turkey is "very happy about the news that a conclusion [in the battle for] Mosul is being reached" but cautioned that "the point which Mosul as reached is very important".
"We have been left with a Mosul in ruins," he said on Monday, speaking to a World Petroleum Congress meeting in Istanbul.
"Who will meet the cost of rebuilding Mosul for the people of Mosul?" he added.
The Turkish leader reiterated the importance of maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and said a planned independence referendum by Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region would harm Iraq's future.
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