Iraqi President due in Ankara today

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is set to arrive in Ankara this afternoon to start an official visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. Talabani, accompanied by Iraq's finance, oil, water resources, security and industry ministers, first will meet with Gul. The Iraqi leader is expected tomorrow to visit Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum, and then will hold talks with Premier Recep Tayip Erdogan. Talabani reportedly will not be accompanied by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zabari or Deputy Premier Barham Salih, both Kurds like Talabani himself, so as not to overshadow his presence.