FBI head Muller holds talks in Ankara

FBI head Robert Muller arrived in Ankara yesterday for official talks. Muller separately met with Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, and National Police Chief Oğuz Kagan Koksal. Muller's talks reportedly focused on bilateral cooperation against terrorism and joint efforts against the terrorist PKK and al-Qaeda, as well as eliminating the PKK and expatriating its leadership from northern Iraq to a third country. Muller reportedly asked Turkey to continue its cooperation with the US to keep track of al-Qaeda-affiliated suspects and their activities. "The director was here to discuss our ongoing and important cooperation on counter-terrorism and law enforcement matters," the US Embassy said in a statement. "Turkey is one of our key partners in the global struggle against terrorism, and we strongly support Turkey's efforts against the PKK terrorist organization. The FBI and the Turkish National Police have a long history of working together in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime. We are looking forward to an exchange of views on opportunities for even closer and more effective cooperation in our common struggle against terror and law-breakers." In December 2005 Mueller visited Turkey to discuss al-Qaeda and PKK-related activities in the country. Since then, bilateral cooperation between the two countries against PKK activities has increased considerably.