Turkish delegation holds contacts in Baghdad

A delegation led by Turkey's Special Envoy to Iraq Murat Ozcelik yesterday held talks in Baghdad with Massoud Barzani, the leader of the northern Iraqi regional administration. After the two-hour meeting, Ozcelik said the talks had been positive and that Turkey had conveyed to the other side security proposals. Ozcelik and his delegation also met separately with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. During the meeting, Maliki expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in a terrorist PKK attack on a Turkish military outpost, adding, "We're ashamed of the PKK using Iraqi territory (as bases for attacks). This menace has to be eradicated, and what needs to be done towards that end must be done."