Kurds vow resistance
Massoud Barzani, president of Kurdish-controlled Iraq
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Friday, 19, Oct 2007 06:35
The president of Kurdish-governed Iraq has warned Turkey, the US and Baghdad not to act against rebels in the Kurdish autonomous north.
Massoud Barzani's comments come after the Turkish parliament gave the green light to a government request for the country's army to pursue militants backed by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The successful motion, passed with a massive majority, allows Turkish troops to legally cross into their neighbour's territory over the next 12 months.
Mr Barzani today warned such a move – coming either from Turkey or via the Iraqi government in Baghdad – would be met with resistance.
"We frankly say to all parties: if they attack the region or Kurdistan experiment under whatever pretext, we will be completely ready to defend our democratic experiment and the dignity of our people and the sanctity of our homeland," he said.
Observers say any realistic attempt to change the PKK's policy of launching attacks on the Turkish army will have to go through Mr Barzani's administration in regional capital Arbil.
But Turkey refuses to recognise the Kurds' rights to self-governance and many fear a Turkish incursion could eventually become a real threat.
"What will satisfy us is the closure of all PKK (rebel) camps, including their training facilities, and the handover of the terrorist leaders to us," the Reuters news agency quoted Turkish prime minister Reycip Erdogan as saying today.
Ankara has already told its army that it should "take all necessary measures" to counteract the threat posed by the after a recent spate of bomb attacks.
But the move could severely jeopardise Turkey's relations with the US after president George Bush warned the aspiring EU member not to go ahead with any incursion.
"We are making it very clear to Turkey that we don't think it is in their interest to send troops into Iraq," Mr Bush said earlier this week.
"Actually they have troops already stationed in Iraq and they've had troops stationed there for quite a while.
"We don't think it's in their interest to send more troops in."
Thousands of people have died during the PKK's bloody struggle for an independent Kurdish state.
Turkey claims that the majority Kurdish regions of northern Iraq, which are largely autonomous, have provided a safe-haven for PKK insurgents.
Despite this however the area is among the most peaceful in Iraq following the US-led invasion of 2003.