New US ambassador due in Ankara today

Francis Ricciardone, the recently appointed US ambassador to Turkey, is set to arrive in Ankara today, almost six months after his predecessor's departure, the US Embassy announced yesterday. Ricciardone, whose appointment was delayed by Republican senators' obstructionism, was expected to arrive at Ankara's Esenboga Airport in the afternoon and make a brief statement to the press. The top US post in Ankara has been vacant since July, when James Jeffrey left to take up a new position as ambassador to Baghdad.