Davutoglu due in N.Iraq

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is scheduled to visit northern Iraq on Saturday. During his talks with top officials of the regional northern Iraqi administration, Davutoglu is expected to urge more cooperation against terrorism, as well talk about ways to improve bilateral economic and trade ties, and opening a Turkish consulate in Erbil. State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan will accompany Davutoglu on the visit. In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki to express his condolences over two suicide bombs that tore through Baghdad on Sunday, one of Iraq’s bloodiest attacks in years. "We completely condemn terror. Nothing can justify the killing of innocents," Erdogan reportedly said in a telephone conversation from Pakistan, where he is paying an official visit. Erdogan highlighted the need for joint efforts against terrorism, while pledging brotherly solidarity with the Iraqi people. Davutoglu also called his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari to offer emergency assistance. "We call on everybody to be more vigilant and act in solidarity against terrorism," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "There is the possibility of an increase in such violent actions, which aim to break the will of the friendly and brotherly Iraqi people for peaceful coexistence in the runup to the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 2010, which are very important for the future of Iraq."