Turkey vows response to rebels
The country's prime minister has promised a firm response against rebels operating from Iraq
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Monday, 22, Oct 2007 08:02
Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised a fight to the "very end" against rebel groups in neighbouring Iraq.
Mr Erdogan's statement came after an emergency meeting to discuss Turkey's response to yesterday's clashes with rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which claimed the lives of 12 Turkish soldiers, according to the Turkish military.
The country's legislature recently passed a law permitting the government to pursue the rebels, suspected of launching operations against Turkey, within the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Mr Erdogan said: "Although it respects Iraq's territorial integrity, Turkey will not tolerate that terrorism be aided and abetted and will not be afraid to pay, whatever the price may be, to protect its rights, its indivisible unity and its citizens.
"The fight against the separatist terrorist organisation will be waged with determination until the very end," he added, in reference to the PKK's activities.
Turkey has previously called on the US to address the threat posed by the PKK, while the latter has urged the Turks not to take bold action - fearing that a cross-border operation would cause further instability in strife-torn Iraq.
The PKK is campaigning for increased self-rule in Turkey's south-eastern regions and the country has previously claimed that the rebel group has established bases in Iraq that have been used to attack its territory.