Ankara - The United states on Thursday welcomed Turkey's commitment to peace in the Middle East saying that the country had a "unique role" to play in the region said George Mitchell, the US special envoy for the Middle East.

"Turkey is a crucial ally of the United States and an important force for the peace and security in the Middle East," Mitchell said in Ankara after talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"As an important democratic nation with strong relations with Israel it has a unique role to play and can have significant influence on our efforts to promote comprehensive peace in the Middle East," Mitchell said.

Despite the close ties, Turkish leaders have been outspoken in their criticism of Israel's recent military operations in the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Erdogan on Monday repeating his claim that Israel's actions were a "crime against humanity."

Turkey has actively campaigned for Hamas to be recognised as formal party in talks aimed an achieving a long-term ceasefire in the region and ultimately a two-state solution.

"The party of change and reform won the elections," Erdogan told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Monday.

"We have to support them. We have to give them a chance," Erdogan said referring to Hamas's parliamentary elections victory in
2006.

Turkey has been heavily involved in trying to persuade Hamas to end its military struggle against Israel.

Mitchell's meetings in Ankara came ahead of a conference of donors in Egypt on March 2. (dpa)