Airstrikes against ISIS
Airstrikes against ISISReuters

Turkey has asked the United States to step up airstrikes to keep “Islamic State” (ISIS) fighters from seizing a key Syrian Kurdish border town, a senior Turkish official was quoted by Reuters as saying on Tuesday.

"Our government and our related institutions have emphasized to U.S. officials the necessity of immediately ramping up air bombardment in a more active and efficient way," Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan said, according to comments published on the website of the television channel AHaber.

“Islamic State” fighters advancing into the southwest of Kobane has increased pressure on Ankara to intervene in the conflict. Criticism is mounting from Turkey's own Kurdish community, who accuse it of inaction.

Clashes between Kurdish protesters and police have erupted in several major Turkish cities, resulting in the death of at least one protester so far - reportedly after being hit in the head by a teargas canister.

NATO member Turkey has so far taken in more than 180,000 Syrian Kurdish refugees fleeing Kobane. It has not joined a U.S.-led coalition against Sunni insurgents, though Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday the campaign should aim to remove Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.