Turkey issues list of wanted leaders

Arbil: Kamal Kirkuki, Iraq Kurdistan Parliament Chairman Deputy, told Gulf News negotiations to tackle Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels conducted by an Iraqi delegation in Ankara had been unsatisfactory.

"Turks should be aware that a military crackdown against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) elements is not a solution, it will destroy the region, and they should think of a political solution instead. This begins with disarming PKK elements and issuing a general amnesty for its fighters."

Kirkuki confirmed the US had given assurances to the Arbil government it would not conduct a military operation against PKK elements in northern Iraq in favour of Turkey.

Jabbar Al Yawer, a General Command of the Kurdistan Border Guard forces spokesman said there were about 4,000 to 5,000 armed PKK men in the mountainous area along the Iraqi -Turkish border.

Mahmoud Othman, a prominent leader in the Kurdistan Alliance, told Gulf News Turkey had submitted three lists of wanted PKK members and that his named was mentioned in the list.

Political sources in Arbil revealed the list of wanted Iraqi Kurds consists of security and political figures and members of the two main parties in Kurdistan, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by President Jalal Talabani and the Kurdistan Democratic Party headed by Massoud Barzani.