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Turkey sends ground forces into Iraq after militant attacks | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Turkish ground forces have crossed into Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish militants for the first time since a ceasefire two years ago. | |
Government officials said the incursion was a "short-term" measure to hunt down PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) rebels. | |
Turkish warplanes also launched a wave of air strikes on PKK bases in northern Iraq on Tuesday. | |
The moves follow deadly attacks by militants on Turkish security forces in the past two days. | |
An attack on a police minibus in eastern Igdir province on Tuesday claimed at least 12 lives, while PKK bombs killed at least 16 Turkish soldiers on Sunday. | |
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has pledged to "wipe out" rebel strongholds. | |
"Turkish security forces crossed the Iraqi border as part of the hot pursuit of PKK terrorists who were involved in the most recent attacks," a government source told AFP news agency. | |
"This is a short-term measure intended to prevent the terrorists' escape." | |
Turkey's Dogan news agency said two special forces units, supported by warplanes, had been sent in to combat two 20-strong groups of militants. | |
At least 35 rebels were killed in air raids by F4 and F16 jets on bases at Qandil, Basyan, Avashin and Zap early on Tuesday, according to the Anadolu news agency. | |
Spiral of attacks - by Selin Girit, BBC News, Istanbul | Spiral of attacks - by Selin Girit, BBC News, Istanbul |
Not a day passes by in Turkey these days without violence. And as one attack follows another, emotions are running high. | Not a day passes by in Turkey these days without violence. And as one attack follows another, emotions are running high. |
The funerals of 16 soldiers killed in Sunday's PKK attack were taking place on Tuesday. | The funerals of 16 soldiers killed in Sunday's PKK attack were taking place on Tuesday. |
Several thousand people have protested in cities across Turkey against PKK violence and the premises of the pro-Kurdish HDP party have come under attack. There were reports of attempted arson. | Several thousand people have protested in cities across Turkey against PKK violence and the premises of the pro-Kurdish HDP party have come under attack. There were reports of attempted arson. |
There is now serious concern that the violence could spiral out of control. | There is now serious concern that the violence could spiral out of control. |
Turkey is gearing up for snap elections on 1 November after the ruling AK Party lost its overall majority in June elections and failed to form a coalition government. | Turkey is gearing up for snap elections on 1 November after the ruling AK Party lost its overall majority in June elections and failed to form a coalition government. |
It was the HDP that deprived the AKP of its majority, polling over 13% of the vote and entering parliament as a political party for the first time. | It was the HDP that deprived the AKP of its majority, polling over 13% of the vote and entering parliament as a political party for the first time. |
Opposition figures have voiced concerns about maintaining poll security, especially in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish east and south-east of the country. | Opposition figures have voiced concerns about maintaining poll security, especially in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish east and south-east of the country. |
Turks question explosion in tensions with PKK | Turks question explosion in tensions with PKK |
The surge in violence follows the collapse of a ceasefire in July between the army and the PKK. | |
The truce, which began in 2013, unravelled after a suicide bombing by suspected Islamic State militants near the border with Syria led to mutual recriminations between Kurdish groups and Turkey. | |
More than 40,000 people have died since the PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984, calling for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey. | More than 40,000 people have died since the PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984, calling for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey. |
In Sunday's attack, the PKK detonated bombs near two military vehicles in the village of Daglica, a mountainous area close to the border with Iraq. | In Sunday's attack, the PKK detonated bombs near two military vehicles in the village of Daglica, a mountainous area close to the border with Iraq. |
Mr Davutoglu responded by telling reporters Turkey would not be discouraged from its "war on terror". | Mr Davutoglu responded by telling reporters Turkey would not be discouraged from its "war on terror". |
"Those mountains will be cleared of these terrorists. Whatever it takes, they will be cleared," he said. | "Those mountains will be cleared of these terrorists. Whatever it takes, they will be cleared," he said. |
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, too, promised a "decisive" response. | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, too, promised a "decisive" response. |
Then on Tuesday, PKK fighters targeted a police minibus as it was heading towards a border post close to the Azerbaijan-run enclave of Nakhchivan, reports said. | |
Hours later, a policeman was shot dead when suspected PKK militants opened fire on his car in the eastern state of Kunceli. | |
In a speech on Tuesday Mr Erdogan appealed for national unity, adding that "the place for settling accounts in democracies is the ballot box". | |
After President Erdogan's remarks on the PKK attack, about 200 people chanting slogans in his support attacked the offices of Turkish newspaper Hurriyet in Istanbul. | After President Erdogan's remarks on the PKK attack, about 200 people chanting slogans in his support attacked the offices of Turkish newspaper Hurriyet in Istanbul. |
They accused the news organisation of misquoting Mr Erdogan and implying that he was trying to gain political capital from the Daglica attack. | They accused the news organisation of misquoting Mr Erdogan and implying that he was trying to gain political capital from the Daglica attack. |
Hurriyet has attracted criticism from pro-government circles over its coverage of the conflict between Turkey's government and the PKK. | Hurriyet has attracted criticism from pro-government circles over its coverage of the conflict between Turkey's government and the PKK. |
The government says military operations against the Kurdish rebel group will continue until it withdraws from Turkish soil and disarms. | The government says military operations against the Kurdish rebel group will continue until it withdraws from Turkish soil and disarms. |
Curfews have been imposed in several towns where clashes took place and more than 100 districts have been declared "temporary security zones". | Curfews have been imposed in several towns where clashes took place and more than 100 districts have been declared "temporary security zones". |
In response, several municipalities in the predominantly Kurdish east and south-east of Turkey have announced "self-rule". | In response, several municipalities in the predominantly Kurdish east and south-east of Turkey have announced "self-rule". |
Critics accuse President Erdogan of renewing violence to curb the support for the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), whose 14% share of the vote in June elections cost the governing AKP its majority in parliament. | Critics accuse President Erdogan of renewing violence to curb the support for the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), whose 14% share of the vote in June elections cost the governing AKP its majority in parliament. |
The government denies these accusations. Many people fear the clashes will mount as snap elections scheduled for November draw closer. | The government denies these accusations. Many people fear the clashes will mount as snap elections scheduled for November draw closer. |