Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 28, 2007

Turkish Troops, Kurdish Rebels Clash in Southeastern Turkey
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A0ADDB:A6F02AD83191E16055021E16FF9965F49574F7DCC14957C0 Authorities say
the clash occurred Sunday in the mostly Kurdish province of Tunceli,
which is not near the Iraq border where other recent fighting has
taken place





Turks chant nationalist slogans in downtown Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday,
28 Oct. 2007, during a protest against the separatist Kurdish rebel
group of PKK

The Turkish military says troops have killed 15 Kurdish rebels during
a major operation in eastern Turkey backed by the air force.

Authorities say the clash occurred unday in the (mostly Kurdish)
province of Tunceli, which is not near the Iraq border where other
recent fighting has taken place. Information on government casualties
was not immediately available.

Separately, an explosion during a rally in the western city of Izmit
(Kocaeli) injured three people demonstrating against Kurdish
separatist violence.  Authorities say experts are investigating the
cause of the blast.

Also today, Turkey's foreign minister said all options are still open
in the fight against the Kurdish rebels, who have bases in northern
Iraq.

Ali Babacan spoke during a visit to neighboring Iran.  He thanked Iran
for its help against the Kurdistan Workers' Party and said he
discussed continuing Turkish-Iranian cooperation.

Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, accused the United States
and Israel of supporting some Kurdish terrorist activities in the
region.

Ankara is threatening a military incursion into northern Iraq to
attack PKK rebels, who killed 13 Turkish soldiers last Sunday in
southeastern Turkey. 

Turkish leaders have rejected Iraqi proposals for dealing with the PKK
in northern Iraq as insufficient.

Also today, Iranian state media say President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
strongly criticized the PKK in a telephone conversation with Turkish
President Abdullah Gul. Mr. Ahmadinejad said terrorist activities by
the PKK are harming the interests of Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says he also
discussed the PKK with Iran's president in a phone conversation. Mr.
Maliki's office says the two leaders agreed on the need to confront
PKK violence, but preferred to solve the crisis peacefully.

The European Union and the United States have urged Ankara to refrain
from invading northern Iraq. 

The PKK has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey
since 1984.  More than 30,000 people have died in the conflict.

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




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