Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan has confirmed that there was bargaining with ISIS regarding the release of 49 consular staff. He said: "It was a question of political bargaining," and did not refute claims of a 'swap'.

Erdoğan held a press conference yesterday prior to travelling to New York for a UN General Assembly meeting.

Answering questions at the press conference regarding the release of the 49 hostages, saying an operation had been carried out by the MIT (Turkish Intelligence Organisation)

Erdoğan: It was political bargaining

Answering questions as to whether there had been bargaining with ISIS, Erdoğan said there had been 'political bargaining', adding: "a material negotiation is totally out of the question." Erdoğan said: “It was a diplomatic success.”

President Erdoğan did not refute claims of a 'swap' with ISIS, saying: "whether or not there was a trade off, 49 of our citizens have returned. I would not change anything for this. Even if there was a swap, I am thankful that they have returned to their families."

Trade off: allowing ISIS members transit and military assistance by train!

The Takva Haber news site, which disseminates propaganda for the Turkish state and ISIS, has claimed that the 49 hostages were released as the result of negotiations between ISIS and the Turkish state, adding there had been no "material bargaining", just like Erdoğan, and that a "ransom" had not been paid. The site said: "agreement was reached as a result of the two states holding negotiations."

It is reported that the hostages were released in return for Turkish assistance to the gangs in the encirclement of Kobane.

It was reported in the press that 1,500 ISIS terrorists went by train to Rojava via Akçakale and Tel Abyad 3 days before the hostages were released. It has also emerged that trains have transported weapons and munitions to the gangs on the Turkey-Rojava border.