Queen Elizabeth visits Bursa

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, on an official visit to Turkey, yesterday traveled to the northwestern province of Bursa. The queen visited the historical Koza Han (Silk Cocoon Market), attended a luncheon, watched a fashion show, saw a Karagoz shadow puppet performance with 13 children, and also visited the Yesil (Green) Mosque and Tomb. Professor Ilber Ortayli briefed the queen about the mosque's history. She was accompanied by State Minister Mehmet Aydin and Bursa Governor Sahabettin Harput. Uludag University Theology Professor Mehmet Emin Ay read out the Koran's Rahman sura to the queen. Meanwhile, Prince Philip visited a car factory in Bursa. He was greeted by senior executives of Turkey's leading carmaker TOFAS, including Mustafa Koc, the chairman of parent company the Koc Group. He toured the body and press workshops guided by TOFAS's Industrial Group Director Massimo Rissi. Hayrunnisa Gul and Zeynep Babacan, the respective wives of the president and foreign minister, accompanied the British royal family. The queen will host a reception in Istanbul today.