Obama calls Erdogan to voice regret on WikiLeaks exposures

US President Barack Obama called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday to voice his regrets over the "deplorable action" by WikiLeaks, saying the whistle-blowing website’s recent disclosure of secret cables should not harm bilateral ties, Turkish Hurriyey Daily News reported.

"The president expressed his regrets for the deplorable action by WikiLeaks and the two leaders agreed that it will not influence or disrupt the close cooperation between the United States and Turkey," the White House said in a written statement Saturday.

"The leaders discussed the enduring importance of the US-Turkish partnership and affirmed their commitment to work together on a broad range of issues," said the White House.

The series of diplomatic messages released by WikiLeaks revealed a complex and difficult relationship between the United States and NATO ally Turkey, with US diplomats casting doubts over Ankara's Western orientation.

Several Turkish officials, including Erdogan, were angered by the WikiLeaks release of highly classified US diplomatic correspondence. Obama's call to Erdogan is seen as an effort to soothe Turkey.

Earlier this month Erdogan accused US diplomats of slander after leaked cables painted him as an authoritarian who hated Israel and led a government with Islamist influences.