Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

November 20, 2008 10:45:50 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Iraq Promises to Help Turkey Quell Kurd Militants

Posted Oct 23, 07 12:01 PM CDT in Politics,  World 

(Newser) – Urging diplomacy, Iraq today pledged to help Turkey resolve border violence by Kurdish militants based in northern Iraq. Turkey kept the diplomatic wheels turning but wouldn't rule out military action to quell the PKK and rejected its offer of a ceasefire. Iraq’s foreign minister vowed to “actively help Turkey overcome this menace” by limiting militant movement and finances, the Times reports.

Turkey is under heavy pressure from the US to not upset one of the most stable areas of Iraq, but public outcry has escalated since a Sunday attack in which the PKK killed 12 Turkish soldiers and reportedly kidnapped eight. Turkey was shelling Iraq’s border yesterday as its PM flew to London for scheduled talks with Gordon Brown.

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Turkey Bombs Rebels in Iraqi Mountains

    Feb 23, 08 3:28 PM CST
    Turkey Bombs Rebels in Iraqi Mountains Fighting continued in semiautonomous Kurdistan today as Turkey’s air and artillery forces let loose a hail of bombs in the mountains of northern Iraq, the AP reports. The strikes are ratcheting up tension between Turkey and the US-backed Iraqi government: Iraq’s foreign minister today told Turkey to get out “as soon as possible.” More »

  • Turkish Air Strikes Target Kurdish Rebels

    Dec 16, 07 8:10 AM CST
    Turkish Air Strikes Target Kurdish Rebels Turkey launched its first air strike since 2003 on Kurdish militants in northern Iraq early this morning, targeting a mountainous region near the Turkish border where the government says the PKK has its leadership council and camps. About 50 warplanes were used in the offensive, the AP reports, which lasted just over three hours. More »

  • Baghdad Vows to Curb Kurds

    Nov 3, 07 4:36 PM CDT
    Baghdad Vows to Curb Kurds Iraq vowed today to “chase and arrest” Kurds who are striking Turkey from northern Iraq, the BBC reports. "We will co-operate with our neighbors in defeating this threat," Maliki told diplomats at international talks in Istanbul. Baghdad showed its muscle by shutting a Kurdish political office, but analysts say that Maliki can’t curb the rebels without help from officials in Kurdistan. More »

  • If Turks Cross Border, It's War: Kurdish Prez

    Oct 29, 07 9:07 AM CDT
    If Turks Cross Border, It's War: Kurdish Prez Kurdish President Massoud Barzani has warned the Turkish government that any move into his territory will be considered a declaration of war. The warning came yesterday as Turkish troops attacked separatist PKK guerrillas inside Turkey, killing 20, reports the London Times. Turkish officials have charged that the largely autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq is harboring the militants. More »

  • Turkey Masses Troops, Ready to Invade

    Oct 27, 07 6:17 PM CDT
    Turkey Masses Troops, Ready to Invade Turkey will invade Northern Iraq “the moment an operation is needed,” Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan vowed after talks with Baghdad crumbled last night. Ankara has up to 100,000 troops on the Iraqi border, backed by tanks and fighter plans, ready to strike roughly 3,000 Kurdish rebels. The US and Britain oppose any incursion, but Erdogan said, “We don’t need to ask anyone’s permission.” More »

An Iraqi solider stands guard before a press conference for Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at the Iraqi ministry of foreign affairs...   (Associated Press)
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, left, is seen with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, right, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at the Iraqi ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq. Turkey's foreign...   (Associated Press)
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, right, shakes hands with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at the Iraqi ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq....   (Associated Press)
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, left, is seen with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, right, during a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at the Iraqi ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 3)

Tags

Iraq • Gordon Brown • Turkey • diplomacy • Iraq government • PKK • Recep Tayyip Erdogan • Hoshyar Zebari


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »