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US giving Turkey PKK intelligence Pressure increased on PKK rebels
(about 1 hour later)
The US is giving Turkey "actionable intelligence" on the positions of Kurdish separatist fighters in northern Iraq, a Pentagon spokesman has said. Turkey, Iraq and the US have all taken steps to combat the threat of Kurdish fighters based in northern Iraq and defuse the crisis in the region.
Geoff Morrell said intelligence would be "key for any sort of military response" to the attacks on Turkey by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Turkish government has announced economic sanctions against groups which support those responsible for a recent upsurge in attacks on Turkish soldiers.
Turkey has deployed thousands of troops on the border and threatened to invade. The move came after Baghdad announced more checkpoints to curb the activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Meanwhile, the Ankara government has announced economic sanctions against groups which support the PKK. The US also said it was giving Turkey intelligence on PKK positions in Iraq.
Correspondents say the measures could result in a boycott of the autonomous Kurdish administration in Iraq. Washington has urged the Turkish government to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis on its south-eastern border, where it has deployed thousands of troops and threatened to invade.
The territory receives food from Turkey, as well as investment and electricity supplies. 'Precautions'
'High standard' Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said his government had initiated "military, political diplomatic measures" to combat the PKK.
Washington has been urging Ankara to show restraint in its response to the PKK, as any military action could destabilise Iraq. "The targets of these measures are the terrorist organization and those groups which are supporting, aiding and abetting it," he said.
Mr Cicek gave no details of the economic measures, but correspondents say they may result in a boycott of the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq, which Ankara says is failing to rein in the activities of the PKK.
THE PKK Formed in late 1970sLaunched armed struggle in 1984Dropped independence demands in 1990sWants greater autonomy for Turkey's KurdsLeader Abdullah Ocalan arrested in 1999Ended five-year ceasefire in 2004Called a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and US Profile: The PKK Is Turkey planning invasion?THE PKK Formed in late 1970sLaunched armed struggle in 1984Dropped independence demands in 1990sWants greater autonomy for Turkey's KurdsLeader Abdullah Ocalan arrested in 1999Ended five-year ceasefire in 2004Called a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and US Profile: The PKK Is Turkey planning invasion?
Last week, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said his country and Turkey needed better intelligence about the location of PKK fighters in northern Iraq before launching any military strikes. The territory receives food imports from Turkey, as well as investment and electricity supplies.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Mr Morrell said the US had given Turkey "intelligence with regards to this situation for a long time". Mr Cicek said Turkey would avoid making innocent people suffer hardship as a result of the "precautions".
Earlier, the US Department of Defence said it had stepped up supplying Ankara with "actionable intelligence" on the positions of PKK fighters in northern Iraq.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the US had given Turkey "intelligence with regards to this situation for a long time".
"We are assisting the Turks in their efforts to combat the PKK by supplying them with intelligence, lots of intelligence," he added."We are assisting the Turks in their efforts to combat the PKK by supplying them with intelligence, lots of intelligence," he added.
"The key for any sort of military response from the Turks or anyone else is having actionable intelligence and that's a pretty high standard, and we are making efforts to help them get actionable intelligence.""The key for any sort of military response from the Turks or anyone else is having actionable intelligence and that's a pretty high standard, and we are making efforts to help them get actionable intelligence."
No details were given of how the information is collected but reports suggest American manned U2 spy planes have been flying over the Turkish Iraqi border. No details were given of how the information is collected but reports suggest American-manned U2 spy planes have been flying over the Turkish-Iraqi border.
Last week, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said his country and Turkey needed better intelligence about the location of PKK fighters in northern Iraq before launching any military strikes.
Border tensionsBorder tensions
The Iraqi government says that it too is acting against the PKK.The Iraqi government says that it too is acting against the PKK.
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari - a Kurd - said checkpoints along the border with Turkey were being set up to cut off the PKK's supply lines.
Iran and Iraq have agreed to curb the activities of Kurdish rebelsIran and Iraq have agreed to curb the activities of Kurdish rebels
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari - a Kurd - said check points along the border with Turkey were being set up to cut off the PKK's supply lines.
He added that he had not given up hope of a peaceful solution to the problems.He added that he had not given up hope of a peaceful solution to the problems.
Mr Zebari's comments came after he met his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, for talks in advance of a conference about Iraq on Saturday in Istanbul.Mr Zebari's comments came after he met his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, for talks in advance of a conference about Iraq on Saturday in Istanbul.
The meeting, bringing together Iraq's neighbours with major international powers and institutions, is aimed at bolstering the country's security and stability.The meeting, bringing together Iraq's neighbours with major international powers and institutions, is aimed at bolstering the country's security and stability.
Afterwards, both men stressed that the border tensions in northern Iraq should not be allowed to dominate the conference.Afterwards, both men stressed that the border tensions in northern Iraq should not be allowed to dominate the conference.
But the tensions clearly loomed large in the talks, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says.But the tensions clearly loomed large in the talks, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says.
The two men agreed that the activities of the PKK against Turkey, and those of another Kurdish group, Pejak, against Iran, had to be curbed.The two men agreed that the activities of the PKK against Turkey, and those of another Kurdish group, Pejak, against Iran, had to be curbed.