Israeli rescue training team to Turkey

An Israeli military delegation is due in Turkey later on Sunday to train rescue workers to deal with natural disasters and major accidents.

Twice during the past twelve months, Israel has sent nearly three-hundred rescue workers to help earthquake victims.

The move comes ahead of a visit to Ankara on Monday by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said that Israel attached great importance to its relations with Turkey.

The two countries signed a military co-operation deal in 1996 -- a move which prompted criticism from several Arab countries, and Iran.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service