Ankara  - US President Barack Obama was beginning his visit to Turkey Monday by paying his respects at the Ankara mausoleum of the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before meeting President Abdullah Gul and addressing parliament.

Obama arrived in Ankara Sunday night for a visit seen as an attempt by the new administration to help heal relations with Turkey and the wider Islamic world that were severely tested during George Bush's term in office, in particular through the invasion of Iraq.

During his talks with Turkish leaders the issue of withdrawing US troops from Iraq is set to be high on the agenda with Turkey concerned that a hasty withdrawal could result in Iraq breaking up and the formation of an independant Kurdish state right on the Turkish border.

Ankara fears that such a result could fan the flames of Kurdish separatism inside Turkey itself.

Other issues high on the agenda will be the situation in Afghanistan, where the two NATO-allies share similar objectives, Turkey's efforts to normalise relations with Armenia and regional affairs such as the Middle East peace process.

Obama was scheduled to fly on to Istanbul Monday afternoon after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (dpa)