KERRY: US LOOKING FOR HELP FROM TURKEY AGAINST IS

(AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States is expecting that Turkey will step up in the fight against the Islamic State group now that the country has secured the release of 49 hostages that were held by the militants.

The hostages — 46 Turks and three Iraqis — were returned to Turkey on Saturday after more than three months in the hands of the Islamic State group, which captured them when it overran the Iraqi city of Mosul in June.

Turkey, a NATO member, has attended conferences and, Kerry says, is committed to help with the effort against the Islamic State group.

But he says they "needed to deal with their hostage situation."

Now, Kerry said in appearance Monday on MSNBC, "the proof will be in the pudding."