Region | Iraq

Turkey plans to move against Iraq Kurds, says Gul

Despite warnings from Washington and Iraq, Turkey is preparing to infiltrate Iraq for a cross-border strike against Kurdish rebels, says Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 12:12 June 29, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Residents stand near the wreckage of vehicles after a car bomb attack killed 25 people and wounded 40 at an intersection in Baghdad on Thursday.
  • Image Credit: Reuters

Ankara: Turkey is preparing plans for a cross-border operation against Kurdish rebels in Iraq, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was quoted as saying on Friday.

Washington has urged Turkey not to enter Iraq, saying it would destablise the region. Iraq has also warned Turkey against making an incursion.

However, Ankara has repeatedly threatened to send troops into Iraq to hunt down militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who use the region as base from which to attack Turkey.

"The military plans have been worked out in the finest detail. The government knows these plans and agrees with them," Gul told the Radikal newspaper in an interview.

"If neither the Iraqi government nor the US occupying forces can [crush the PKK], we will take our own decision and implement it," Gul said.

More than 30,000 people have been killed in fighting between Turkish security forces and the PKK.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. Dozens killed in Baghdad attacks

    Dozens killed in Baghdad attacks

    Dozens killed in Baghdad attacks

  2. Shiite bloc's support for Al Maliki rife with discord

    Shiite bloc's support for Al Maliki rife with discord

    Shiite bloc's support for Al Maliki rife with discord

  3. Turkey's army chief calls to crush Kurd rebels

    Turkey's army chief renews call to crush Kurd rebels in Iraq

  4. 20 beheaded bodies found near Baghdad

    20 beheaded bodies found near Baghdad

More from Iraq

  1. Kuwait denies entry restriction reports

  2. 26 wounded in twin bombs in Iraq

  3. Google to put Iraqi national museum online

  4. Amended Iraq poll law angers Sunnis

All articles in Iraq

More from Region

Gulf News
Popular in News
News Editor's choice