WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call on Friday to "deescalate tensions" with Iraq by continuing to withdraw Turkish forces from northern Iraq, the White House said in a statement.

The leaders also discussed the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria including efforts to support the moderate opposition in the war-torn nation, the White House said. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Eric Walsh)

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