Obama turns to public diplomacy in Istanbul

US: Pledging respect for Islam, US President Barack Obama turned to public diplomacy Tuesday, meeting religious leaders and students and touring ancient monuments in Istanbul on the second day of his first visit to a mainly Muslim nation.

In a major speech at the Turkish parliament, Obama declared Monday the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam and called Turkey a "critical ally," earning himself much praise in a country where his precedessor left the US image in tatters. "Obama conquers hearts," the popular Vatan newspaper trumpeted on its front page, while the Islamist-leaning Zaman hailed the president's "historic and warm messages."

The liberal Taraf declared the president's remarks marked the end of "the bellicose spirit of September 11," while the mass-selling Milliyet described Turkey as the starting point of a new US policy of reconciliation with the Muslim world.

ISTANBUL, Tuesday, AFP