Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 17, 2007

Turkey Set to Approve Military Moves Against Rebel Kurds in Iraq
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19E8E7C:A6F02AD83191E160E41441485C151AB49574F7DCC14957C0 Turkey blames
Iraq-based rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for attacks
that have killed about 30 soldiers and civilians in the past two weeks
Turkey's parliament is expected to vote Wednesday on a government
motion authorizing cross-border military operations against Kurdish
rebels in northern Iraq.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says passage of the motion
will not mean a military operation is imminent. But he says Turkey
will act to defend itself at the right time and under the right
conditions.







A Turkish soldier patrols on a road in the province of Sirnak, near
the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, 17 Oct 2007Turkey
blames Iraq-based rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for
attacks that have killed about 30 soldiers and civilians in the past
two weeks.

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi says Iraq must be given a chance
to stop PKK rebels before Turkey takes any action.

Hashimi made the remark before leaving Ankara Wednesday after talks
with Turkish leaders in an attempt to head off a possible military
incursion.

Tuesday, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih warned Turkey that
a unilateral military operation across the border will have "grave
consequences."

In an interview with British radio (the BBC), Salih said such an
action would set a terrible precedent and could destabilize Iraq and
the region.

Turkey says it must consider an incursion because the U.S. and Iraqi
militaries have not removed rebel safe havens in northern Iraq.

The United States has urged Turkey not to resort to military action.
The U.S. fears a Turkish incursion would destabilize the relatively
peaceful Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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