BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s fugitive vice president has flown to Turkey, his third stop in what he has called an “official visit” to regional countries.

A statement issued late Monday by Tariq al-Hashemi’s office says he will meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the developments in the region.

Al-Hashemi is sought by Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government on terror charges for allegedly running death squads against Shiite pilgrims, government officials and security forces.

The top Sunni official faces an arrest warrant and has been taking refuge in Iraq’s autonomous northern Kurdish region. He denies the charges as politically motivated.

He previously visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia.