US' Obama to hold talks in Ankara

Fresh from a G-20 meeting in London and NATO summit in France, US President Barack Obama yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit. Obama was greeted by State Minister Mehmet Simsek, Turkish Ambassador in Washington Nabi Sensoy, US Ambassador to Ankara James Jeffrey, and Ankara Governor Kemal Onal. Obama will begin his official meetings after visiting Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum. Afterwards, he will meet with President Abdullah Gul. Later, he is set to visit Parliament, with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan hosting, and will also meet with opposition leaders, including main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, and Democratic Society Party (DTP) Ahmet Turk. Afterwards, Obama will address the full Parliament, with many members of the media also in attendance, as well as President Gul. Obama will also hold contacts with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Prime Ministry, and then will proceed to Istanbul to attend the second forum of the Alliance of Civilizations.