BRIEF-Al Baraka Turk plans to open branch in Arbil, northern Iraq

ISTANBUL, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Fahrettin Yahsi, chief executive of Islamic lender Al Baraka Turk, part of Bahrain's Al Baraka Banking Group, told Reuters on Wednesday:

* plans to open a bank branch in Arbil, northern Iraq in six months time

* Says sees asset growth of 30 percent in 2010, 20 percent in 2011

* Plans $250 million murabaha syndication in Q2 2011 (Reporting by Ebru Tuncay) (Istanbul newsroom - [phone], [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.