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| Turkish troops move out of Iraq | |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The Turkish military says it has withdrawn its troops from northern Iraq, following a controversial ground offensive against Kurdish rebels. | The Turkish military says it has withdrawn its troops from northern Iraq, following a controversial ground offensive against Kurdish rebels. |
| The army said the goals of the operation "had been reached and the units have returned to their bases". | The army said the goals of the operation "had been reached and the units have returned to their bases". |
| Turkey launched the cross-border attack last week, accusing Iraq of failing to stop PKK guerrillas from using the area as a safe haven. | |
| Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari welcomed the withdrawal. | Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari welcomed the withdrawal. |
| "We think this is the right thing for Turkey to do," Mr Zebari told reporters. | "We think this is the right thing for Turkey to do," Mr Zebari told reporters. |
| Click to view a detailed map of the border regionEnlarge Map | Click to view a detailed map of the border regionEnlarge Map |
| The development comes a day after President George W Bush urged Nato ally Turkey to wind up the raid and get out of Iraq. | The development 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. |
| Iraq said the incursion was unacceptable and violated its sovereignty. | Iraq said the incursion was unacceptable and violated its sovereignty. |
| Show of strength | Show of strength |
| 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 - the Kurdistan Workers' Party - is branded a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and EU. | The PKK - the Kurdistan Workers' Party - is branded a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and EU. |
| It has launched a number of attacks on Turkish troops and civilians from northern Iraq. | It 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 intelligence from the US. Deploying ground troops was a crucial follow-up. | Turkey's campaign began with air strikes in December, supported by 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 more than 100 soldiers. | Turkey says 24 soldiers and 237 rebels have been killed. The PKK says it has killed more than 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. |