Erdogan and Putin discussed need to halt civilian deaths in Syria's eastern Ghouta: source

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey April 3, 2018. Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of halting civilian deaths in Syria's eastern Ghouta region in a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, a Turkish presidential source said.

Suspected chemical attacks over the weekend killed at least 60 people and wounded more than 1,000 in Syria's rebel-held eastern Ghouta, a Syria medical relief group said.

(Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by David Dolan)