Syria Is Top Item as US, Turkish Leaders Confer President Barack Obama says he and Turkey's prime minister are looking for ways to bring about needed change in Syria as that nation's leadership continues a bloody crackdown on civilians. Obama met Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan (RAY'-sep TIE'-yip ERR'-doh-wan) Sunday ahead of a nuclear security conference in South Korea. Turkey shares a border with Syria and has been a key player in trying to stop violence that has claimed an estimated 8,000 lives over the past year. Erdogan said, 'We cannot remain a spectator to these developments' Both leaders spoke at the end of their meeting. Turkey hosts a meeting of the diplomatic group known as the "Friends of Syria," next week to show Syrian President Bashar Assad a united front against his repression.