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Turkish PM in landmark Iraq visit Turkish PM boosts ties with Iraq
(about 4 hours later)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi leaders. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has support from Iraq's government and Iraqi Kurdish leaders to fight the Kurdish rebel group, the PKK.
Discussions are expected to focus on security issues and efforts to tackle the Kurdish rebel group, the PKK. Mr Erdogan, only the second regional leader to visit Iraq since 2003, spoke at a joint Baghdad news conference with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.
Mr Erdogan is also expected to sign trade agreements and discuss Iraqi investment and reconstruction plans. He said the nations would work together to build security and economic ties.
He is only the second leader of a country neighbouring Iraq to visit the country since the US-led invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein in 2003. Mr Erdogan was also expected to sign trade agreements and discuss Iraqi investment and reconstruction plans.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went to Baghdad in March, but no Arab head of state has done so for at least five years. The Turkish prime minister spoke of a joint understanding between the two nations, as well regional Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq, to tackle the PKK - an issue which has previously strained relations.
King Abdullah of Jordan had been expected to visit earlier this week, but the trip was called off at the last minute over security concerns. He said: "The PKK is a terrorist organisation, which is not only Turkey's enemy but Iraq's as well.
"We will not allow such attempts to poison relations in the region or between the two countries."
Mr Maliki described the occasion as "a historic visit", saying: "The time is right for Turkey and Iraq to have developed relations."
Cross-border attacksCross-border attacks
The main issue between Iraq and Turkey is the presence in the mountainous northern Iraqi border region of fighters from the rebel Turkish Kurdish movement, the PKK. The presence in the mountainous northern Iraqi border region of fighters from the rebel Turkish Kurdish movement, the PKK, has been the cause of tension between the two nations.
They have been blamed by Ankara for a number of cross-border attacks. The rebels have been blamed by Ankara for a number of cross-border attacks.
Turkey has launched ground, air and artillery attacks on suspected PKK bases in northern Iraq, which is generally under the control of the Iraqi Kurdish regional government and its forces.Turkey has launched ground, air and artillery attacks on suspected PKK bases in northern Iraq, which is generally under the control of the Iraqi Kurdish regional government and its forces.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that for the Iraqi government, the vital thing is the visit itself.The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that for the Iraqi government, the vital thing is the visit itself.
The visit by Mr Ahmadinejad reinforced the perception that Iraq, under its new government dominated by Shia Muslims and Kurds, was falling under Iranian influence. Mr Erdogan is only the second leader of a country neighbouring Iraq to visit the country since the US-led invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went to Baghdad in March, but no Arab head of state has done so for at least five years.
The visit by Mr Ahmadinejad reinforced the perception that Iraq, under its new government dominated by Shia Muslims and Kurds, was falling under Iranian influence, our correspondent says.
The Iraqi government is keen to counter that impression, by encouraging closer ties with other regional states. Turkey has been the first to respond.The Iraqi government is keen to counter that impression, by encouraging closer ties with other regional states. Turkey has been the first to respond.
Other mainly Sunni Arab states have plans to revive their embassies and involvement in Baghdad, but it's proving a slow process. Some mainly Sunni Arab states have plans to revive their embassies and involvement in Baghdad, but it is proving a slow process, our correspondent adds.
King Abdullah of Jordan had been expected to visit earlier this week, but the trip was called off at the last minute over security concerns.