Putin and Erdogan outline plan to reduce tension along Turkey-Syria border

IRBIL, Iraq - The presidents of Turkey and Russia outlined a plan late Tuesday meant to reduce tensions along the Turkey-Syria border, where Turkish forces launched a military offensive almost two weeks ago.

Authorities meeting in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi said the effort would involve Russian and Syrian government forces and a so-called border safe zone long demanded by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a session that reportedly lasted almost seven hours, apparently reflecting the difficulty of crafting an agreement.

"We want