EU urges Turkey to open border to help Kobane

(LUXEMBOURG) - European Union foreign ministers called on Turkey Monday to open its border so as to help the Syrian town of Kobane, under attack from Islamic State jihadi fighters.

"The situation in Kobane and in other areas under siege and experiencing fierce fighting against IS is a matter of serious concern," the 28 EU foreign ministers said in a statement after a regular meeting in Luxembourg.

"The EU appreciates efforts by Turkey to shelter refugees from Kobane and calls on Turkey to open its border for any supply for the people of Kobane," it said.

The statement did not elaborate but EU diplomatic sources said the phrasing "any supply" would cover arms or fighters crossing the border.

Turkey said earlier Monday that it was now helping Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters to cross the border and join the battle for Kobane, marking a major shift by Ankara which had up to now blocked them.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey did not want Kobane to fall into IS hands but he gave no details of what help was being given to the Peshmerga after a month-long seige of the town.

The reinforcements could be crucial for Kobane whose defenders are now also being helped by US-led air strikes and air drops.

Turkey had closed the border to Kurdish fighters up to now for fear they would help create a powerful Kurdish fighting force.

Turkish security forces have waged a 30-year conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), whose battle for self-rule in the southeast has left 40,000 dead.

However, in recent years Turkey has built up strong relations with the Kurdish authorities in the Kurdistan region of Iraq who control the Peshmerga forces.

The Kurdish Rudaw news agency reported earlier that Turkey had approved a request from Massoud Barzani, the president of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, to allow Peshmerga forces to pass through Turkish territory.

It appears that despite the agreement over the Peshmerga, Turkey will still block any PKK fighters from entering Syria.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the weekend rejected calls for Turkey to arm the main Kurdish party in Syria, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), saying "just as the PKK ... it's a terrorist organisation."