Syria Kurdish leader proposes 'demilitarised zone' in northern town

The leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces on Tuesday proposed a "demilitarised zone" in the northern town of Kobane as fighting with Turkish-backed groups grips northern Syria.

"Reaffirming our firm commitment to achieving a comprehensive ceasefire across all of Syria, we announce our readiness to propose the establishment of a demilitarised zone in the city of Kobane, with the redeployment of security forces under American supervision and presence," Mazloum Abdi wrote on X.

The announcement comes amid fears of an assault by Turkey on the Kurdish-held border town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, a week after Turkish-supported Islamist rebels toppled Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad.

Earlier Tuesday, the United States said it had brokered an extension of a ceasefire between pro-Turkish fighters and Syrian Kurds at the flashpoint town of Manbij, and was seeking a broader understanding with Ankara.

The Manbij truce, which had recently expired, "is extended through the end of the week, and we will, obviously, look to see that ceasefire extended as far as possible into the future," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

In a statement earlier on Tuesday, the SDF had accused Ankara of plotting an attack on Kobane.

"Turkey has mobilised large numbers of its forces and militias with heavy weaponry around Kobane," the statement said, adding that Ankara was "ready for an attack".

Turkey accuses the main component of the SDF, the People's Protection Units (YPG), of being affiliated with Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants at home, whom both Washington and Ankara consider a "terrorist" group.