LOC20:44
17:44 GMT
ANKARA, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki arrives in
Turkey Thursday, part of a regional tour aimed at rallying support for his
quest for a second term as premier.
Al-Maliki is expected to meet Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Istanbul
and then heads to Ankara for talks with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and other officials, diplomats said Wednesday.
Al-Maliki's visit to Turkey takes place seven months after the
parliamentary elections, with political parties are deadlocked on the name of
the next prime ministers.
Erdogan, speaking to reporters yesterday before flying to Finland, said his
meeting with Al-Maliki would focus on developments in Iraq in general, and the
Iraqi political forces' failure to name a prime minister.
Turkey has been receiving envoys from Iraq, either from Al-Maliki or other
political parties, to brief the Turkish leaders about the state-of-play of the
formation of the government in Baghdad.
Turkey was clear in its position and telling the envoys that it stood at a
same distance from all parties.
Al-Maliki, whose tour has already taken him to Syria, Jordan, Iran and
Egypt, seeks a second-term through partnership with other parties. (end)
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