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| Turkey admits loss of helicopter | Turkey admits loss of helicopter |
| (30 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. |
| Click to view a detailed map of the border regionEnlarge Map | |
| 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. |
| Turkey says more than 112 PKK militants have been killed as well as 15 of its own soldiers in three days of fighting. | 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 that 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. |
| Escalation threat | |
| In its latest internet statement, the Turkish military says its ground troops, supported by fighter jets and helicopter gunships, are fighting PKK separatists in three locations inside northern Iraq. | |
| It says that that over 60 PKK targets, including shelters and weapons stores, have been destroyed and that PKK militant are retreating to the south. | |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Turkey says that if that is true and Turkish troops follow them, the danger of the conflict spreading will increase. | |
| Iraqi-Kurdish Peshmerga have already vowed massive resistance if local civilians are harmed. | |
| Political measures | Political measures |
| 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". | |
| Gates urged Turkey to respect Iraq's sovereignty | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |