US Secretary of State says Turkey, United States natural allies on range of global challenges

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Saturday that Turkey could serve as a democratic model for the Middle East but warned about Ankara's efforts to limit media and restrict freedom of expression.

Wrapping up a two-day visit to Turkey designed to smooth ties after a period of tension, Clinton said Turkey and the United States were natural allies on a range of global challenges.

Yet, the US secretary of state criticized Turkey on what she said were moves to jail journalists and impose new limits on freedom of expression in the country.

Earlier, during a televised media interview with a group of young people at an Istanbul coffee shop, Clinton said she was concerned by the crackdown, which has also sparked a rebuke by the Council of Europe.

Clinton expressed strong US support for Turkey in its battle against the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, whose fighters killed 13 Turkish soldiers on Friday in the worst attack since February. But she said Turkey should expand its political participation so "Kurdish Turks can feel fully part of Turkey while still believing they can maintain those aspects of their Kurdish identity that are important to them."