Turkey's Erdogan: actions against Islamist, Kurdish militants to continue

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan greets parliamentarians as he arrives at the Turkish parliament to watch a swearing-in ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, June 23, 2015 REUTERS/Umit Bektas

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's strike on Islamic State bases in northern Syria was a "first step" and actions against Islamist, Kurdish and leftist militants will continue, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. Erdogan also told reporters in Istanbul that militant groups must lay down their weapons or "face consequences". (Reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Daren Butler)