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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Turkey seeks green light on Iraq | Turkey seeks green light on Iraq |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| MPs in Turkey are due to debate a motion authorising cross-border military operations into northern Iraq to target Kurdish rebel bases there. | MPs in Turkey are due to debate a motion authorising cross-border military operations into northern Iraq to target Kurdish rebel bases there. |
| Parliament in Ankara is expected to approve the motion by a large majority amid widespread public support for military action against the PKK. | Parliament in Ankara is expected to approve the motion by a large majority amid widespread public support for military action against the PKK. |
| Attacks blamed on the rebels have been escalating inside Turkey in a conflict which dates back more than two decades. | Attacks blamed on the rebels have been escalating inside Turkey in a conflict which dates back more than two decades. |
| But the US is anxious that Turkish action could destabilise northern Iraq. | But the US is anxious that Turkish action could destabilise northern Iraq. |
| The motion says that Turkey has warned Iraq repeatedly to clamp down on the PKK to no avail. | The motion says that Turkey has warned Iraq repeatedly to clamp down on the PKK to no avail. |
| Public pressure | Public pressure |
| Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi, who was in Ankara on Tuesday for talks, has reportedly asked Turkey for more time to tackle Kurdish rebel bases. | Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi, who was in Ankara on Tuesday for talks, has reportedly asked Turkey for more time to tackle Kurdish rebel bases. |
| "The Iraqi government should be given a chance to prevent the cross-border terrorist activities," Turkish media quoted him as saying. | "The Iraqi government should be given a chance to prevent the cross-border terrorist activities," Turkish media quoted him as saying. |
| "I got what I wanted from the talks. There is a new atmosphere to overcome the current crisis," he said. | "I got what I wanted from the talks. There is a new atmosphere to overcome the current crisis," he said. |
| href="/1/hi/world/europe/7048730.stm">Explosive potential of raid class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7044760.stm">Profile: PKK rebel group Send us your comments | |
| Meanwhile, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer entered the debate by telephoning Turkish President Abdullah Gul to urge restraint. | Meanwhile, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer entered the debate by telephoning Turkish President Abdullah Gul to urge restraint. |
| "He expressed his view that all parties should exercise the greatest possible restraint, particularly in this time of great tension," a Nato spokesman told a regular news briefing on Wednesday. | "He expressed his view that all parties should exercise the greatest possible restraint, particularly in this time of great tension," a Nato spokesman told a regular news briefing on Wednesday. |
| The recent death of 13 Turkish soldiers in an ambush blamed on the PKK has put the government under renewed pressure to respond with force. | The recent death of 13 Turkish soldiers in an ambush blamed on the PKK has put the government under renewed pressure to respond with force. |
| Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the motion does not mean a military operation is imminent. | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the motion does not mean a military operation is imminent. |
| But he also warned that Turkey would act decisively in its fight against terrorism. | But he also warned that Turkey would act decisively in its fight against terrorism. |
| Turkey is a regional hub for the US military, and some suggest access to Incirlik airbase or other supply lines crucial to US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan could be affected by the row. | Turkey is a regional hub for the US military, and some suggest access to Incirlik airbase or other supply lines crucial to US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan could be affected by the row. |
| The US is also at odds with Turkey over a planned Congressional vote to recognise the mass killing of Armenians in Ottoman times as genocide, although support for that resolution on Capitol Hill now appears to be waning. | The US is also at odds with Turkey over a planned Congressional vote to recognise the mass killing of Armenians in Ottoman times as genocide, although support for that resolution on Capitol Hill now appears to be waning. |
| Key Democrats in the US House of Representatives have joined Republicans to warn that US strategic interests could be damaged by the largely symbolic resolution, which US President George W Bush strongly opposes. | Key Democrats in the US House of Representatives have joined Republicans to warn that US strategic interests could be damaged by the largely symbolic resolution, which US President George W Bush strongly opposes. |
| 'Grave consequences' | 'Grave consequences' |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the stakes for any Turkish military action on Iraqi soil are potentially very high. | BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the stakes for any Turkish military action on Iraqi soil are potentially very high. |
| The PKK wants more autonomy in south-eastern Turkey | The PKK wants more autonomy in south-eastern Turkey |
| An incursion posing a threat to the oilfields around Kirkuk could provoke a major crisis, which might suck in Iraqi forces, the Americans and maybe even the Iranians, he says. | An incursion posing a threat to the oilfields around Kirkuk could provoke a major crisis, which might suck in Iraqi forces, the Americans and maybe even the Iranians, he says. |
| Iraq and America are also urging restraint out of concern military action by Turkey will bring chaos to the only relatively calm region of Iraq, he adds. | Iraq and America are also urging restraint out of concern military action by Turkey will bring chaos to the only relatively calm region of Iraq, he adds. |
| Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh has warned unilateral action by Turkey in Iraq could have "very grave consequences". | Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh has warned unilateral action by Turkey in Iraq could have "very grave consequences". |
| A spokesman for the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq told the BBC it was not helping the PKK. | A spokesman for the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq told the BBC it was not helping the PKK. |
| The head of the UN refugee agency has said he is deeply concerned Turkish action could lead to big displacements of people. | The head of the UN refugee agency has said he is deeply concerned Turkish action could lead to big displacements of people. |