Turkmens should work for unity: Gul

Iraq's Turkmens should not only work to protect the rights of their community but also for the unity of Iraq, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said. Gul met yesterday with Ersat Salihi, the leader of the Turkmen Front party, expressing Turkey's desire to maintain close ties with all ethnic and religious groups in Iraq. "I believe that while defending the rights of the Turkmens in the best possible way, Salihi will make contributions also to the fraternity and peaceful cohabitation in Iraq between Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs," Gul said.