Top US commander hails Turkey as major strategic partner

"Turkey is a very important strategic partner for the U.S. and it plays a major role in regional security and diplomacy," Petraeus was quoted by the state-run Anatolian Agency as telling reporters prior to his departure from the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Petraeus arrived in Ankara on Tuesday, the deadline for U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Iraqi cities, and met high-level Turkish officials, including army chief Gen. Ilker Basbug and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Petraeus described his talks with Turkish officials as "fruitful," as Turkish diplomatic sources told the Anatolian Agency the U.S. general had made no request from Turkey concerning a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq during a meeting with Davutoglu.

Turkey has said it could possibly agree to the use of Turkish soil for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from neighboring Iraq. Turkey, a NATO member, is also a key U.S. ally in Afghanistan.