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Iraq seeks talks on Turkey threat | Iraq seeks talks on Turkey threat |
(10 minutes later) | |
Baghdad has called for "urgent negotiations" with Turkey after Ankara threatened to intervene in neighbouring Iraq to eliminate Kurdish rebels. | Baghdad has called for "urgent negotiations" with Turkey after Ankara threatened to intervene in neighbouring Iraq to eliminate Kurdish rebels. |
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has called an urgent cabinet meeting to discuss the crisis. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has called an urgent cabinet meeting to discuss the crisis. |
"The Iraqi government calls on the Turkish government to hold urgent talks," said Mr Maliki's spokesman. | "The Iraqi government calls on the Turkish government to hold urgent talks," said Mr Maliki's spokesman. |
But Turkey has said its patience has run out over the handling of Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq. | But Turkey has said its patience has run out over the handling of Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq. |
Turkey is seeking parliamentary permission for a cross-border operation to hunt down Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members. | |
Ankara says the group is a terrorist organisation responsible for the deaths of at least 15 Turkish soldiers in the past two weeks, and says the group enjoys free movement in northern Iraq. | Ankara says the group is a terrorist organisation responsible for the deaths of at least 15 Turkish soldiers in the past two weeks, and says the group enjoys free movement in northern Iraq. |
Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi has arrived in Ankara in an attempt to dissuade Turkey from staging a cross-border offensive. | Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi has arrived in Ankara in an attempt to dissuade Turkey from staging a cross-border offensive. |
'Multiple operations' | 'Multiple operations' |
Turkey hopes it will not be forced to resort to military action, even if its motion gained approval in parliament, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said. | Turkey hopes it will not be forced to resort to military action, even if its motion gained approval in parliament, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said. |
"I sincerely wish that this motion will never be applied," said Mr Erdogan in televised comments. | "I sincerely wish that this motion will never be applied," said Mr Erdogan in televised comments. |
"Passage of this motion does not mean an immediate incursion will follow." | "Passage of this motion does not mean an immediate incursion will follow." |
Ankara says the PKK are terrorists who move freely in northern IraqMr Erdogan's AK Party, which has a parliamentary majority, is expected to vote in favour of the motion on Wednesday. | |
If passed, the vote will authorise cross-border operations for one year with the government deciding on the timing, scope and frequency of any incursions. | If passed, the vote will authorise cross-border operations for one year with the government deciding on the timing, scope and frequency of any incursions. |
Mr Erdogan called on the regional administration in northern Iraq to crack down on the rebels, saying it should "build a thick wall between itself and terrorist organisations". | Mr Erdogan called on the regional administration in northern Iraq to crack down on the rebels, saying it should "build a thick wall between itself and terrorist organisations". |
He added that any military operation would respect Iraq's territorial integrity and only target the rebels. | He added that any military operation would respect Iraq's territorial integrity and only target the rebels. |
Iraq signed a counter-terrorism pact with Turkey last month, but opposes any military incursion into its territory. | Iraq signed a counter-terrorism pact with Turkey last month, but opposes any military incursion into its territory. |
The US has also warned Ankara against ordering any incursions into Iraq. | The US has also warned Ankara against ordering any incursions into Iraq. |