Obama: US 'not at war with Islam'

During his first visit to a mainly Muslim state, President Barack Obama has declared that the US "is not, and will never be, at war with Islam".

Addressing the Turkish parliament, Mr Obama called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world saying this was the way to defeat al-Qaeda.

However, the president stated that "America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al-Qaeda".

Mr Obama also said that Washington supported Turkey's efforts to join the EU.

On Newshour, Claire Bolderson spoke to Gulnur Aybet a specialist in Turkish-American relations at the University of Kent and to US foreign correspondent Tom Fenton:

First broadcast 6 April 2009