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Turkey admits loss of helicopter | Turkey admits loss of helicopter |
(40 minutes later) | |
Turkey says that one of its helicopters taking part in an offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq has been destroyed near the border. | Turkey says that one of its helicopters taking part in an offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq has been destroyed near the border. |
It said the incident happened "due to an unknown reason". Earlier, Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels claimed to have shot down a Turkish helicopter. | It said the incident happened "due to an unknown reason". Earlier, Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels claimed to have shot down a Turkish helicopter. |
Iraq has meanwhile issued a statement urging Turkey to withdraw its forces and engage in talks on the PKK issue. | Iraq has meanwhile issued a statement urging Turkey to withdraw its forces and engage in talks on the PKK issue. |
And the US has urged Turkey to keep its military campaign as short as possible. | And the US has urged Turkey to keep its military campaign as short as possible. |
The Turkish authorities launched the cross-border attack on Thursday night after accusing the Iraqi government of failing to stop members of the PKK from using the area as a safe haven. | The Turkish authorities launched the cross-border attack on Thursday night after accusing the Iraqi government of failing to stop members of the PKK from using the area as a safe haven. |
More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for a Kurdish homeland in south-eastern Turkey in 1984. | More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for a Kurdish homeland in south-eastern Turkey in 1984. |
The US, the EU and Turkey consider the PKK to be a terrorist organisation. | The US, the EU and Turkey consider the PKK to be a terrorist organisation. |
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Turkey says more than 112 PKK militants have been killed as well as 15 of its own soldiers in three days of fighting. | |
The PKK disputes that, claiming it has killed 47 Turkish troops. | |
Ahmed Danees, head of foreign relations for the PKK, said his group had on Saturday shot down a Turkish Cobra attack helicopter. | Ahmed Danees, head of foreign relations for the PKK, said his group had on Saturday shot down a Turkish Cobra attack helicopter. |
He added that this had happened in the remote Chamsku area, close to the border. | He added that this had happened in the remote Chamsku area, close to the border. |
Iraq's government on Sunday renewed a call for Turkey to remove its troops from Iraqi territory "as soon as possible," calling the offensive "a threat to the stability of the region and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty". | Iraq's government on Sunday renewed a call for Turkey to remove its troops from Iraqi territory "as soon as possible," calling the offensive "a threat to the stability of the region and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty". |
Political measures | Political measures |
Speaking at the end of a visit to Australia, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said military strikes by Turkey would not be enough on their own to end the long-running dispute with Kurdish rebels. | |
He said Ankara should employ political and economic measures to isolate the PKK and erode its support base. | He said Ankara should employ political and economic measures to isolate the PKK and erode its support base. |
Gates urged Turkey to respect Iraq's sovereignty | Gates urged Turkey to respect Iraq's sovereignty |
He said America's experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan showed that military muscle should be complemented by efforts to address grievances held by minority groups. | He said America's experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan showed that military muscle should be complemented by efforts to address grievances held by minority groups. |
"These economic and political measures are really important because after a certain point people become inured to military attacks," he said. | "These economic and political measures are really important because after a certain point people become inured to military attacks," he said. |
"And if you don't blend them with these kinds of non-military initiatives then at a certain point the military efforts become less and less effective." | "And if you don't blend them with these kinds of non-military initiatives then at a certain point the military efforts become less and less effective." |
The American defence secretary will deliver his advice in person when he travels to Ankara next week. | The American defence secretary will deliver his advice in person when he travels to Ankara next week. |