Around the World: Iraq

Turkey president pays visit

Turkey's president began the first visit to Iraq by a Turkish head of state in more than 30 years yesterday, seeking to press Iraqi leaders to stop Kurdish rebels from launching cross-border attacks on Turkey.

Abdullah Gul became the latest in a series of foreign dignitaries visiting Iraq as violence has declined dramatically since 2007. Shortly before his arrival, however, a bomb exploded west of the capital, killing eight people and wounding at least 10.