15 PKK dead in Turkish raid
Iraq promises to close PKK offices as protestors take to the streets in Turkey. Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license versions 3, 2.5, 2 and 1
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Sunday, 28, Oct 2007 05:47
At least 15 members of the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) have been killed in a military operation conducted by Turkish forces.
Local television reports and news agencies suggest that the raid took place earlier today against separatist rebels in the central eastern province of Tunceli near the town of Pulumur.
The attack is the latest in a series of assaults on PKK strongholds and follows warnings that the Turkish army may make an incursion into northern Iraq to tackle militants hiding out in the autonomous, Kurdish-controlled region.
Further evidence of Turkey's preparedness to use force was underlined by foreign minister Ali Babacan's comment earlier today that "all options are on the table", including diplomacy and economic and military action.
Both the Baghdad government and US authorities have said they are committed to preventing the PKK from operating in Iraq but observers have said the issue is bound to create tensions with the region's Kurdish government. The Turkish parliament approved a territorial incursion into Iraq on October 17th.
Meanwhile, Iran's state news agency Irna quotes a communiqué between Turkish president Abdullah Gul and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad which appears to criticise coalition forces in Iraq.
The joint message states that "occupiers have prepared ground for disunity and are supporting terrorists with their double standards".
It adds the pair hope talks scheduled for next week in Istanbul will help resolve the crisis.