ANKARA: Turkey's prime minister says he intends to visit the Gaza Strip in the next few weeks. That would make him the first world leader to officially visit the area since the Hamas militants seized control of it.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wants to visit Gaza after visiting Egypt, which he is expected to do Cairo within two weeks.

''If conditions are favorable, frankly I think of a Gaza visit'' after Egypt, Erdogan said.

It was not immediately clear whether Erdogan would meet with any Hamas leaders. The few dignitaries who have gone there in coordination with the United Nations in the past have shunned Hamas officials.

Erdogan's government remains at odds with Israel over last year's killing of nine Turkish activists by Israeli forces on an aid ship that tried to break Israel's blockade on Gaza.