Turkey has offered to give military training to the Islamist-led rebels governing Syria, as Ankara appears to be positioning itself to take a major role in the country’s future.

Yasar Guler, the Turkish defence minister, said his country would give the support “if the new administration requests it”.

He added that the rebel government should be “given a chance” after assurances that it would respect governmental institutions and international organisations, such as the UN.

Nato member Turkey backed some of the Syrian rebels who toppled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad last weekend, ending almost 14 years of civil war.

Ibrahim Kalin, Ankara’s intelligence chief, then visited Damascus on Thursday for talks with the new rebel leadership, according to the Syrian information ministry.

Turkey’s engagement with the new Syrian authorities comes amid uncertainty over Russia’s future there and as Western countries consider working with the rebels.