Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 24, 2008

Turkish Military Confirms Helicopter Crash, 8 Troops Killed in Iraq
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B578AD:A6F02AD83191E160EB80C24135163378E55ED32ED25AB8F6& Turkish military
officials say at least 33 PKK militants died in the fighting Sunday, ,
bringing to 112 the number of rebels Turkey claims to have killed
since Thursday





Turkish army Super Cobra helicopter takes off with artillery units
ready to fire in Cukurca in Hakkari province at the Turkey-Iraq
border, 24 Feb 2008

Turkey's military says eight of its troops have died and one of its
helicopters crashed in an offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern
Iraq.

It is unclear whether the eight soldiers were aboard the helicopter
that went down near the Turkish-Iraqi border Sunday.  Kurdish PKK
rebels earlier claimed responsibility for shooting down a helicopter
in the area.

The Turkish military says the latest casualties raise its death toll
to 15 since troops began a ground operation against PKK rebels in Iraq
last Thursday. The rebels say they have killed at least 20 Turkish
soldiers.

Turkish military officials say at least 33 PKK militants died in the
fighting today, bringing to 112 the number of rebels Turkey claims to
have killed since Thursday. The rebels have not confirmed the death
toll.

No civilian casualties have been reported, but Iraq's foreign minister
Hoshyar Zebari says the Turkish military destroyed five bridges.







In this photo released by the Turkish Military, Turkish commandos are
seen during an operation in an undisclosed location on the
Turkish-Iraqi border

The prime minister for the Iraqi Kurdistan regional government
expressed concern Sunday about the way Turkey is conducting its
operations.

Nechirvan Barzani said that by attacking Kurdish infrastructure,
including bridges, Turkey's goal appears to extend beyond fighting the
PKK rebels. He said the Kurdish region's president Massud Barzani has
appealed to U.S. President George Bush to end the situation.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his forces will
withdraw once the PKK's logistical and psychological support are
destroyed.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that he hopes Turkey
keeps its operation short and precise.

The outlawed PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, has been fighting for
autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984. More than
30-thousand people have died in the violence.




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