Turkey is to allow Iraqi Kurdish fighters to cross the Syrian border to fight Islamic State (IS) militants in Kobane, in what is being seen as a policy reversal.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said talks on the subject were continuing.

Tens of thousands of people have fled months of fighting in Kobane between IS forces and Syrian Kurd defenders.

The announcement came shortly after the US carried out air drops of weapons to the town's Kurdish fighters.

US Central Command also confirmed six air strikes by the US-led coalition near Kobane over Sunday and Monday, as well as six in Iraq near Falluja and Baiji involving French and UK aircraft.

The BBC's Kasra Naji on the Turkish border says Kobane has been largely quiet for the second day running, with Kurdish fighters apparently having driven IS militants from most of the town.

But the Turkish government decision is nevertheless a major boost for the defenders' morale, our correspondent adds, and soon for their fighting capability.

BBC