ANKARA, January 18, SPA--Turkey's president says he welcomesIsrael's unilateral cease-fire as «a first step» towardan end to the bloodshed in Gaza, AP reported. However President Abdullah Gul says the cease-fire must bedurable and that Israel must withdraw troops. Gul was speaking Sunday before traveling to Egypt toattend a meeting on Gaza. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged the UnitedStates and other Western nations to exert pressure onIsrael. He said Israel must provide a deadline for withdrawingtroops from Gaza. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/627144