Khalidi, Maya Gebeily and Khalil Ashawi AMMAN/BEIRUT/DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria's transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan are expected to discuss a joint defense pact in Ankara on Tuesday,

The meeting between the Turkish president and Syria's new leader will focus on Syria's post-conflict reconstruction, economic recovery and security issues.

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa visits Ankara on Tuesday for talks with Turkey's leaders on rebuilding his land and the volatile issue of Kurdish fighters near the countries' border. Sharaa is scheduled to arrive mid-afternoon,

Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected in neighbouring Turkey on Tuesday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on his second official trip abroad since taking power. The meeting is scheduled to be held later in the evening in the capital Ankara,