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Turkey PM in 'decisive' US talks US 'to help Turkey combat rebels'
(about 2 hours later)
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Washington for what Ankara has called a decisive meeting with President George W Bush on Kurdish rebels in north Iraq. US President George W Bush has promised extra help to tackle Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, following talks with Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey has threatened to send troops across the border to hit bases used by the Kurdish PKK rebels unless the US and Iraq do more to stop attacks. Mr Bush offered to share intelligence with Turkey and declared the PKK rebel organisation "an enemy of Turkey, a free Iraq and the United States".
The Turkish government is under public pressure to use force against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party). Turkey has threatened to hit bases used by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) unless the US and Iraq do more to help.
But Washington has urged Ankara not to launch cross-border strikes. Washington has urged Ankara not to launch cross-border strikes into Iraq.
Impatience US officials fear such action could destabilise northern Iraq, up to now the most stable region of the country.
Before leaving for Washington, Mr Erdogan warned that the meeting came at a critical time. Kurdish protests
We will work with Turkey and the Iraqis to make sure there is not a safe haven established for the PKK in that region Dana Perino,White House spokeswoman class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7079939.stm">Border politics The Turkish government is under public pressure to use force against the PKK following a series of deadly attacks in Turkey.
"Our visit comes at a time when [Turkish-US] relations are undergoing a serious test," Mr Erdogan told reporters on Saturday, before departing from Istanbul. We have run out of patience with the terrorist attacks being staged from northern Iraq Recep Tayyip ErdoganTurkish Prime Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7079939.stm">Border politics
"We have run out of patience with the terrorist attacks being staged from northern Iraq," he said, expressing hope that his talks with Mr Bush would produce "concrete measures". Speaking in Washington at a joint news conference with Mr Erdogan, Mr Bush pledged to strengthen political and military cooperation and to improve intelligence sharing between the US, Turkey and Iraq.
In spite of promises of action from the Iraqi government and the US, who regard the PKK as the "common enemy", Mr Erdogan did not seem reassured. "I made it very clear to the prime minister that we want to work in a close way to deal with this problem," he said.
On a stop in Italy on his way to Washington he told the newspaper La Repubblica "there hasn't been any concrete step" from the US administration to stop Kurdish violence. Mr Erdogan said Ankara saw it as very important that there was a joint approach to tackling the PKK rebels.
'No safe haven' He warned that the stability of the whole region would be affected by what happened in northern Iraq.
Speaking to reporters, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino stressed that Turkey was a "long-running ally" of the US and that Washington wanted to cooperate with Ankara.
Kurdish demonstrators protested outside the White HouseKurdish demonstrators protested outside the White House
"We are concerned about the challenge posed by the PKK terrorists," she said. Before leaving for Washington, Mr Erdogan said the meeting came at a critical time for US-Turkish relations.
"They should be eradicated, and so we will work with Turkey and the Iraqis to make sure there is not a safe haven established for the PKK in that region." "We have run out of patience with the terrorist attacks being staged from northern Iraq," he said, expressing hope that his talks with Mr Bush would produce "concrete measures".
Kurdish protesters demonstrated outside the White House on Monday, voicing their opposition to Mr Erdogan's position. Kurdish protesters demonstrated outside the White House on Monday, voicing their opposition to any violent action by Turkey.
The Kurdish rebels have intensified their campaign during the past month, killing at least 40 people, military and civilians, in Turkey.The Kurdish rebels have intensified their campaign during the past month, killing at least 40 people, military and civilians, in Turkey.
The PKK has waged a violent campaign in the south-eastern region of Turkey since 1984, resulting in more than 30,000 deaths. The PKK has waged a violent campaign for a Kurdish homeland since 1984, resulting in more than 30,000 deaths.