Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates met in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Sources close to the meeting said Erdogan and Gates had agreed that the U.S. "takes concrete steps" in sending the military equipment that Turkey had asked for in Ankara´s fight against miliants.

Sources said Erdogan and Gates discussed issues regarding Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Syria and Iraq as well.

Sources cited Gates as telling the Turkish premier that the U.S. attached great importance to Turkey´s role in Afghanistan and that Turkey was "the most important defender of peace in the region."

Erdogan and Gates also agreed that Turkey would play "a more effective role" in the training of Afghan police and military, and send more trainer troops to the country.