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Turkish PM urges NATO action against
Kurdish rebels
25.7.2006
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ANKARA, July 25,
2006 (AFP) , -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan called for NATO to join the combat against
mounting violence by Kurdish rebels holed up in
northern Iraq, the Anatolia news agency reported.
"NATO, just as it stepped in to join the struggle
against terrorism in Afghanistan, should ... perform
the same duty here," Erdogan told reporters late
Monday in western Turkey, where he is holidaying.
Erdogan's call came as Ankara becomes increasingly
exasperated by US reluctance to crack down on rebels
of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), based
in the mountains of northern Iraq since 1999.
Last week, Ankara threatend a cross-border operation
if Washington and Baghdad failed to act against the
rebels who use Kurdish-populated northern Iraq as a
springboard for attacks inside Turkey.
The United States -- which, like Turkey, considers
the PKK as a terrorist group -- has warned against
unilateral cross-border action by Turkey and called
for a joint effort by Ankara, Washington and
Baghdad.
Erdogan said Ankara was willing to take part in such
an effort, but stressed it was also prepared to send
troops into Iraq if need be.
"It would be good if we could work on a trilateral
effort and get results," he said, but added: "If
not, we will take care of our own problems."
Turkey says thousands of armed PKK militants have
found refuge in northern Iraq since 1999, when the
group declared a unilateral ceasefire after the
capture of its leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
The PKK called off the truce in 2004 and has since
stepped up its attacks on government targets.
At least 94 PKK rebels and 56 members of the
security forces have been killed in fighting this
year, according to an AFP count.
Kurdish militants have also claimed responsibility
for 11 bomb attacks in urban centres in 2006, in
which nine people were killed and nearly 140
injured.
More than 37,000 people have been killed since 1984,
when the PKK took up arms for self-rule in Turkey's
mainly Kurdish southeast.
AFP
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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