US' Obama to visit Turkey next week

US President Barack Obama is set to visit Turkey next week as part of an eight-day European tour which started yesterday. Obama's visit will begin with a ceremony at Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum, followed by a meeting with President Abdullah Gul. Obama will hold talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of addressing Parliament. In related news, Erdogan next week will chair the Second Summit of the Alliance of Civilizations. Erdogan will also hold talks with the alliance's co-chair, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to boost bilateral ties between the two countries.