> "Barack Obama is visiting Turkey - his first trip to a predominantly
> Muslim country since becoming US president.

> He is expected to try to revitalise ties with the Turkish government,
> which have deteriorated in recent years because of the war in Iraq.
> Turkish President Abdullah Gul greeted Mr Obama, who has voiced
> support for Turkey's efforts to join the EU.

> He said Turkey's accession would send an important signal to the
> Muslim world and firmly anchor it within Europe.

> Before his visit, the US leader attended a Nato summit in France,
> where he helped to overcome Turkey's objection to Danish Prime
> Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's appointment as the military
> alliance's next secretary general.

> Turkey had initially blocked his appointment because he had defended
> the right of one of his country's newspapers to publish controversial
> cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which caused outrage in much of the
> Muslim world.

> But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Mr
> Obama's support had helped to assuage his country's concerns.

> "He put forth a lot of positive energy," he said. "We responded
> positively to this. We hope that the promises made are kept."