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US presses for end to Turkey raid Turkey must end Iraq raid - Bush
(about 12 hours later)
Turkey's incursion into northern Iraq "should be as short and precisely targeted as possible", US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said. US President George W Bush has urged Turkey to complete its military operation in northern Iraq swiftly.
Mr Gates was speaking after talks with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Mr Bush told a news conference, he said the Turks needed to "move quickly, achieve their objective and get out."
Mr Gonul said the assault on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) separatists would last "as long as necessary". Turkey sent troops into Iraq last week in an operation it said was aimed at getting rid of PKK Kurdish rebel bases.
On Wednesday, Turkey said 230 rebels and 24 soldiers had been killed since the offensive started last Thursday. It says 237 rebels and more than 20 soldiers have been killed so far. The PKK says it has killed more than 100 soldiers. There is no confirmation.
The PKK say they have killed at least 81 Turkish soldiers. Neither report can be independently verified. 'No threats'
Iraq says the incursion, that was launched last week, is unacceptable and violates its sovereignty. Mr Bush dismissed suggestions that Turkey should be threatened with the removal of American intelligence co-operation.
The Turkish military says its goal is to destroy the bases of the rebels, who want an independent homeland in south-east Turkey. "The key for us is to make clear what our interests are, our concerns about the situation in Iraq," he said.
Socio-economic measures Mr Bush's comments followed an earlier statement by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates during a visit to Turkey.
In Ankara, Mr Gates reiterated Washington's call for the Turkish military operation against the PKK to be short and focused. Turkey's incursion into northern Iraq "should be as short and precisely targeted as possible", he said after talks with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul in the capital, Ankara.
Military action alone will not end this terrorist threat Robert GatesUS Defence Secretary Mr Gonul said the assault on the PKK separatists, who want an independent homeland in south-east Turkey, would last "as long as necessary".
Earlier this week, he said the offensive must not last more than a week or two. Heavy clashes
However, Mr Gates said he had not discussed a withdrawal timetable with Mr Gonul. In the latest fighting, a PKK spokesman was quoted as saying heavy clashes broke out when rebels surrounded 200 Turkish soldiers in a mountain valley.
"Military action alone will not end this terrorist threat," Mr Gates said, urging Ankara to address the economic and social concerns of Turkey's large Kurdish minority and continue dialogue with Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdish leaders. Iraq says the incursion, launched last Thursday, is unacceptable and violates its sovereignty.
Click to view a detailed map of the border regionEnlarge MapClick to view a detailed map of the border regionEnlarge Map
For his part, Mr Gonul said Turkish troops would remain in northern Iraq until their mission was complete.
He added that Ankara had "no intention to occupy any areas".
Since November, the US has been providing real-time intelligence to help Turkey target the PKK across the border.Since November, the US has been providing real-time intelligence to help Turkey target the PKK across the border.
Ankara will not want to jeopardise that vital support, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says.Ankara will not want to jeopardise that vital support, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says.
But now that Turkish troops are engaging the PKK on the ground, apparently successfully, the military will not be keen either to leave too soon, our correspondent says. But now that Turkish troops are engaging the PKK on the ground, apparently successfully, the military will not be keen to leave too soon either, our correspondent says.
More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began their campaign in 1984. More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK its campaign in 1984.
Ankara says as many as 3,000 PKK members use northern Iraq as a safe haven.
The US, the EU and Turkey consider the PKK to be a terrorist organisation.