Somali President leaves for Turkey for state visit

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Tuesday left for Turkey for state visit, a government statement said. Somali President led a top government delegation including Foreign Minister Fowsiyo Yussuf Haji Adan, Defence Minister Abdi - Hakim Mohamoud Haji Fiqi, Finance Minister Mohamoud Hassan Suleiman and senior advisers. "We are going to Turkey to strengthen our bilateral relations and discuss many important issues, suchas military and Security, diplomatic, technical and economic development which will deepen the relations between our two countries," said the Somali leader. The Somali President Sheikh Hassan and his delegation will hold talks with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as other high ranking Turkish government officials. Turkey is a key ally of Somali government and has been at the forefront of the international effort to support the horn of African nation. Since this year's visit to the country by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has been playing a greater role in backing the Somali government and is involved in the reconstruction of key government installations in Mogadishu. Turkey is rebuilding schools, hospitals and key streets in the Somali capital Mogadishu while it has given scholarships to hundreds of Somali students since the visit of Erdogan to the capital Mogadishu. Somali President is also expected to meet the Somali community in Turkey.