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Iraq says taking "important steps" against
PKK
22.10.2007
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October
22, 2007
BAGHDAD, -- Iraq's government said on Sunday
it was taking important steps to end what it called
the "terrorist actions" of Turkey's Kurdish PKK
rebels who use its mountainous in Kurdistan north as
a base for attacks on neighboring Turkey.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki held urgent
talks with his national security team after rebels
of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) killed at least
12 Turkish soldiers and Turkey shelled Kurdistan
region 'northern Iraq'.
The PKK said they had taken several soldiers
hostage.
The prime minister's office said in a statement Iraq
condemned the PKK. It said Iraq would work to secure
the release of the hostages, although the rebels
said they were not held in Iraq.
The security team discussed "the situation along the
Iraqi-Turkish border and have taken important steps
in relation to the activities of the PKK, which the
government regards as 'terrorist' actions", Maliki's
office said.
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Iraq's parliament |
It did not say what actions it planned to take. The
Iraqi government has limited options to tackle the
PKK rebels, whose hideouts are in accessible
mountainous terrain in Iraq's self-governing
Kurdistan region where it has little sway.
The government has been angered by the recent
actions of the PKK, whose attacks in mainly Kurdish
southeastern Turkey have forced Iraq into conflict
with its neighbor at a time when it is more
concerned with quelling internal sectarian violence
that has killed tens of thousands and displaced
millions of Iraqis.
Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Reuters in an
interview last week the government wanted the PKK to
leave Iraq as soon as possible. Iraqi has repeatedly
stressed it wants friendly relations and dialogue
with its powerful neighbor.
Iraqi Kurdish politician says, Turkey is using a
Kurdish separatist PKK rebel group as an excuse to
invade Kurdistan region 'Iraq' to prevent the
establishment of Kurdistan state in the Kurdish
autonomous region in 'northern Iraq'.
Ankara is anxious to prevent the emergence of a
Kurdish state in Kurdistan region 'northern Iraq',
fearing this could fan separatism among its own
large Kurdish population in southeast Turkey. Turkey
is home to over 25 million ethnic Kurds.
Reuters
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