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Turkey's remote prospect for peace Turkey's remote prospect for peace
(about 4 hours later)
By Sarah Rainsford BBC News, TurkeyBy Sarah Rainsford BBC News, Turkey
A recent attack by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters left 12 Turkish soldiers dead, prompting Ankara to threaten an incursion into Iraq to remove the rebels.A recent attack by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters left 12 Turkish soldiers dead, prompting Ankara to threaten an incursion into Iraq to remove the rebels.
The killing of Turkish soldiers has provoked strong anti-PKK feelingsStreet protests erupted spontaneously on the day the soldiers were killed.The killing of Turkish soldiers has provoked strong anti-PKK feelingsStreet protests erupted spontaneously on the day the soldiers were killed.
They were small at first, a few hundred people gathered here and there. But they soon merged in a sea of flags and shouts of condemnation of the violent attack on Turkey's border with Iraq.They were small at first, a few hundred people gathered here and there. But they soon merged in a sea of flags and shouts of condemnation of the violent attack on Turkey's border with Iraq.
The details of that ambush are still sketchy. The only official information the military ever gives comes via the Chief of Staff's website, on a page that plays a military march as you read.The details of that ambush are still sketchy. The only official information the military ever gives comes via the Chief of Staff's website, on a page that plays a military march as you read.
The short statement this time said PKK fighters attacked a Turkish military unit on Sunday morning, from three directions.The short statement this time said PKK fighters attacked a Turkish military unit on Sunday morning, from three directions.
Twelve soldiers died in the clashes and at least 16 were injured. Later, the military confirmed eight men were still missing. The PKK says they have been kidnapped.Twelve soldiers died in the clashes and at least 16 were injured. Later, the military confirmed eight men were still missing. The PKK says they have been kidnapped.
Calls for revengeCalls for revenge
Turkey has been battling with the Kurdish group for more than two decades. But this is the most serious PKK attack in many years and Turks are by turn shocked and furious.Turkey has been battling with the Kurdish group for more than two decades. But this is the most serious PKK attack in many years and Turks are by turn shocked and furious.
Under attack, this country has rallied behind its military Tens of thousands of people joined the soldiers' funerals, surrounding coffins draped in the red and white national flag.Under attack, this country has rallied behind its military Tens of thousands of people joined the soldiers' funerals, surrounding coffins draped in the red and white national flag.
On Wednesday, the crowd at the noisiest football ground in Europe fell silent to honour the dead, as a Turkish flag there was unfurled along the entire length of the pitch.On Wednesday, the crowd at the noisiest football ground in Europe fell silent to honour the dead, as a Turkish flag there was unfurled along the entire length of the pitch.
Another statement from the chief of staff said thousands of men had volunteered for action, in what Turkey calls its war on terror.Another statement from the chief of staff said thousands of men had volunteered for action, in what Turkey calls its war on terror.
Under attack, this country has rallied behind its military. It has left many Turks baying for revenge.Under attack, this country has rallied behind its military. It has left many Turks baying for revenge.
"We have to go after the terrorist bases in northern Iraq now," one man told me at a demonstration in the centre of Istanbul."We have to go after the terrorist bases in northern Iraq now," one man told me at a demonstration in the centre of Istanbul.
"America keeps telling us to hold back - but they supported Israel in Lebanon when just a couple of soldiers were kidnapped."America keeps telling us to hold back - but they supported Israel in Lebanon when just a couple of soldiers were kidnapped.
"We've lost so much more. It's time to send our troops to northern Iraq,""We've lost so much more. It's time to send our troops to northern Iraq,"
Military threatMilitary threat
There are an estimated 3,000 PKK rebelsThe PKK was formed here in the 1980s to fight for an independent Kurdistan, rising up against a country that suppressed all expression of "Kurdishness", in the name of a united Turkish state.There are an estimated 3,000 PKK rebelsThe PKK was formed here in the 1980s to fight for an independent Kurdistan, rising up against a country that suppressed all expression of "Kurdishness", in the name of a united Turkish state.
There was a lull in the fighting when the PKK's founder, Abdullah Ocalan, was captured. But three years ago the clashes began again.There was a lull in the fighting when the PKK's founder, Abdullah Ocalan, was captured. But three years ago the clashes began again.
This summer the violence has been particularly intense.This summer the violence has been particularly intense.
Turkey says that is because the PKK now operates freely from inside the Kurdish-run north of Iraq, launching attacks from there, on Turkey.Turkey says that is because the PKK now operates freely from inside the Kurdish-run north of Iraq, launching attacks from there, on Turkey.
So it is threatening to go in after them unless Iraq moves to close their camps, and cut supply routes.So it is threatening to go in after them unless Iraq moves to close their camps, and cut supply routes.
Trade worriesTrade worries
Down on the Turkish side of the Iraqi border there is a huge military build-up. All the signs do suggest Turkey is ready to make good on its threat.Down on the Turkish side of the Iraqi border there is a huge military build-up. All the signs do suggest Turkey is ready to make good on its threat.
And that is what worries people in this part of the country.And that is what worries people in this part of the country.
Unlike in Istanbul, people here know northern Iraq. They do business there, they know the people and the terrain.Unlike in Istanbul, people here know northern Iraq. They do business there, they know the people and the terrain.
"A cross-border operation is insane," one Turkish-Arab man told me, in a village tea house close to the border."A cross-border operation is insane," one Turkish-Arab man told me, in a village tea house close to the border.
Trade between Turkish and Iraqi border towns remains important"The military will achieve nothing in those mountains. They'll only waste my tax-money on their planes and their bombs."Trade between Turkish and Iraqi border towns remains important"The military will achieve nothing in those mountains. They'll only waste my tax-money on their planes and their bombs."
He worries about the impact on the economy too.He worries about the impact on the economy too.
Fuel runs to northern Iraq are a key source of income here, as is trade in construction materials and food.Fuel runs to northern Iraq are a key source of income here, as is trade in construction materials and food.
There are already long queues at the border gate - traders panicking the crossing will soon be closed.There are already long queues at the border gate - traders panicking the crossing will soon be closed.
Strong tiesStrong ties
But there is another dynamic at play in this region, where most people are ethnic Kurds.But there is another dynamic at play in this region, where most people are ethnic Kurds.
Unlike in western Turkey, many here do not condemn what the PKK did. To them, the PKK remains the group that fought for their rights in the days when even saying you were a Kurd was seen as separatism.Unlike in western Turkey, many here do not condemn what the PKK did. To them, the PKK remains the group that fought for their rights in the days when even saying you were a Kurd was seen as separatism.
The situation today has improved enormously. Even the most militant Kurdish nationalists admit that.The situation today has improved enormously. Even the most militant Kurdish nationalists admit that.
But ties to the PKK remain strong and there are plenty here who describe the violence as "self defence" against a military that has been targeting them for years.But ties to the PKK remain strong and there are plenty here who describe the violence as "self defence" against a military that has been targeting them for years.
People here still don't feel like equals in Turkey Mesrut, journalist "It's an instinct. People still feel the PKK is fighting for them," Mesrut explained.People here still don't feel like equals in Turkey Mesrut, journalist "It's an instinct. People still feel the PKK is fighting for them," Mesrut explained.
A tiny man - dwarfed even further by his huge wooden desk - he runs a daily news-sheet in a town close to the Iraqi border.A tiny man - dwarfed even further by his huge wooden desk - he runs a daily news-sheet in a town close to the Iraqi border.
That brings its own hazards. If he calls the PKK "terrorists" using official terminology, he gets threatened by locals.That brings its own hazards. If he calls the PKK "terrorists" using official terminology, he gets threatened by locals.
With tension now so high, he uses news agency reports instead to avoid responsibility.With tension now so high, he uses news agency reports instead to avoid responsibility.
"People here still don't feel like equals in Turkey," Mesrut explains."People here still don't feel like equals in Turkey," Mesrut explains.
"And their children are still with the fighters in the mountains, so how can they condemn the PKK?""And their children are still with the fighters in the mountains, so how can they condemn the PKK?"
High tensionHigh tension
On the street outside, a television is tuned to the news. Men watch from wicker stools.On the street outside, a television is tuned to the news. Men watch from wicker stools.
They tell me they believe a military operation in Iraq is inevitable, but they warn that it will destroy the PKK, or its support base. They tell me they believe a military operation in Iraq is inevitable, but they warn that it will not destroy the PKK, or its support base.
"There are other ways to solve this - without violence," one man insists. "We need a negotiated peace.""There are other ways to solve this - without violence," one man insists. "We need a negotiated peace."
In the current climate, that prospect looks more remote than ever.In the current climate, that prospect looks more remote than ever.
But it seems just as unlikely the Iraqi Kurds will hand senior PKK commanders over to Turkey, as Ankara demands.But it seems just as unlikely the Iraqi Kurds will hand senior PKK commanders over to Turkey, as Ankara demands.
The government is genuinely reluctant to use force.The government is genuinely reluctant to use force.
But the crowds are on the streets. Troops are poised on the Iraqi border. And the danger is that another major PKK ambush will force them across, whatever the arguments against that.But the crowds are on the streets. Troops are poised on the Iraqi border. And the danger is that another major PKK ambush will force them across, whatever the arguments against that.
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 27 October, 2007 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 27 October, 2007 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.