Putin, Erdogan talk by phone, to meet in person soon: Kremlin

Moscow, July 17 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who on Friday survived a coup attempt, in a phone conversation on Sunday reaffirmed their intention to meet in person soon, the Kremlin said.

The Kremlin said Putin offered condolences to Erdogan over the victims in Friday's coup attempt, which killed at least 161 people and injured 1,440 others, Xinhua news agency reported.

Putin said Russia deemed the actions "categorically unacceptable".

Putin also expressed concerns about the safety of Russian tourists travelling in Turkey, whose numbers have significantly increased after Moscow lifted the restrictive measures against Ankara, and Erdogan vowed to take all necessary steps in that regard, according to the Kremlin press service.

Earlier on Saturday, Turkish authorities said they had regained control of the country after thwarting the coup attempt by a military faction late Friday night.