Biden Apologizes After Turkish PM Says VP Is ‘History To Me’

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at America's Central Port in Granite City, Ill., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, to mark the fifth anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden has apologized to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn) for saying the Turkish leader had conceded that his country mistakenly assisted foreign fighters, including Islamic State extremists, seeking to depose the Syrian regime.

The White House says Biden spoke to Erdogan on Saturday “to clarify comments” Biden made on Thursday at Harvard University.

The White House says Biden apologized “for any implication” that Turkey or other allies had intentionally supplied or helped in the growth of the Islamic State group or other extremists groups in Syria.

Biden on Thursday said Erdogan had admitted that Turkey made mistakes by helping violent militants in Syria. An angry Erdogan denied saying that and countered that Biden would become “history to me” over the comments.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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