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Turkey 'pulls some Iraq troops' Turkish troops 'move out of Iraq'
(40 minutes later)
Some Turkish troops staging a ground offensive against Kurdish rebels have left northern Iraq, reports say. Iraq's foreign minister has said all Turkish troops have left northern Iraq after mounting a controversial ground offensive against Kurdish rebels.
But US sources told Reuters news agency that it was too early to call the pull-back a full withdrawal. But amid conflicting reports, US and Kurdish sources have said it is too early to call the move a full pull-out.
Amid conflicting reports over the size of the pull-out, Turkey's military said it would make a statement later. Turkey's military said it would make a statement later.
Turkey launched the cross-border attack last Thursday, accusing Iraq of failing to stop members of the Kurdish PKK from using the area as a safe haven.Turkey launched the cross-border attack last Thursday, accusing Iraq of failing to stop members of the Kurdish PKK from using the area as a safe haven.
It says more than 20 soldiers and some 240 rebels have been killed. The PKK says it has killed over 100 soldiers. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says the Turkish military is not denying the claims of a pull-out but they are certainly not confirming it, while the lips of government ministers in Ankara remain sealed.
"We are seeing a limited portion of the troops that had entered Iraq moving back toward Turkey. [It's] too early to call this a withdrawal," an unnamed US official in Baghdad wrote in an email to Reuters. Confusion
'Lull' in fighting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told journalists on Friday: "All the Turkish troops have withdrawn and gone back to the Turkish side of the international border."
"We welcome this, we think this is the right thing for Turkey to do," added Mr Zebari, who is an ethnic Kurd.
Click to view a detailed map of the border regionEnlarge Map
But an unnamed US official in Baghdad wrote in an email to the Reuters news agency: "We are seeing a limited portion of the troops that had entered Iraq moving back toward Turkey. [It's] too early to call this a withdrawal."
And Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) spokesman Ahmed Danis told AFP news agency: "Turkish troops have started a limited withdrawal from the Zap region at the border."
The move comes a day after President George W Bush urged Nato ally Turkey to wind up the raid and get out of Iraq.The move comes a day after President George W Bush urged Nato ally Turkey to wind up the raid and get out of Iraq.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates personally conveyed the message during talks in Ankara on Thursday.US Defence Secretary Robert Gates personally conveyed the message during talks in Ankara on Thursday.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says the operation appears to be continuing although there have been reports of a lull in the fighting overnight.
Iraq says the incursion is unacceptable and violates its sovereignty.Iraq says the incursion is unacceptable and violates its sovereignty.
Click to view a detailed map of the border regionEnlarge Map
But Ankara argues that as many as 3,000 Kurdish rebels use the region as a springboard for raids on Turkey.But Ankara argues that as many as 3,000 Kurdish rebels use the region as a springboard for raids on Turkey.
The PKK - which Turkey, the US and EU brand a terrorist organisation - has launched a number of attacks on Turkish troops and civilians from northern Iraq.The PKK - which Turkey, the US and EU brand a terrorist organisation - has launched a number of attacks on Turkish troops and civilians from northern Iraq.
Analysts say Turkey had to mount a show of strength after a wave of devastating PKK ambushes on Turkish troops in September and October last year.Analysts say Turkey had to mount a show of strength after a wave of devastating PKK ambushes on Turkish troops in September and October last year.
Turkey's campaign began with air strikes in December, supported by real-time intelligence from the US. Deploying ground troops was a crucial follow-up.Turkey's campaign began with air strikes in December, supported by real-time intelligence from the US. Deploying ground troops was a crucial follow-up.
The strategic aim of the operation is to demolish the main PKK bases in northern Iraq and prevent fresh attacks from there in spring, analysts say.The strategic aim of the operation is to demolish the main PKK bases in northern Iraq and prevent fresh attacks from there in spring, analysts say.
Reports from Turkey on the size of the assault force have varied from 3,000 to 10,000 soldiers.Reports from Turkey on the size of the assault force have varied from 3,000 to 10,000 soldiers.
Turkey says 24 soldiers and 237 rebels have been killed. The PKK says it has killed over 100 soldiers.
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.