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  • IRAQ: Iraqis want talks to avert tensions on Turkish border with northern Iraq, home to Kurdish extremists

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IRAQ: Iraqis want talks to avert tensions on Turkish border with northern Iraq, home to Kurdish extremists

Iraqi citizens in the capital Baghdad on Thursday (October 18) called for the United Nations to prevent a possible Turkish incursion into northern Iraq to attack Kurdish rebels based there. Iraqi citizen Haider Abdul Zahra said: "We call for the United Nations to interfere and stop the Turkish incursion in northern Iraq. This is considered a violation of Iraqi independence and a violation of the Iraqi government. So, we will not accept this action." Turkey's parliament has resoundingly approved a motion allowing troops to cross into northern Iraq to hunt down rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), brushing aside appeals from the United States and the Baghdad government. The Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq said on Wednesday that a Turkish attack on Kurdish separatists there would not be effective and would only harm regional stability. Washington fears a Turkish incursion could destabilise the most peaceful part of Iraq and possibly the wider region by encouraging others such as arch-foe Iran to intervene. Another Iraqi citizen, Ehsan Mohammed said that Iraq and Turkey should work together to find a peaceful solution. "Turkey has no right to interfere in our borders. This is wrong. We should cooperate with each other and reach a normal and peaceful solution. We should cooperate to dispell the troubles on our borders," he added. Iraq's government said on Wednesday it would send a team to Ankara for talks to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. Turkey keeps a relatively small contingent of troops at several bases in northern Iraq dating back to the time of previous offensives in the 1990s. Those offensives failed to eliminate the PKK guerrillas. The PKK said in a statement that its fighters were on full alert for any attack by the Turkish military and would defend the Kurds and their interests until "the last drop of blood".

ITN Source | October 18, 2007Watch more videos from ITN Source

Tags:. .washington. .together. .possibly. .possible. .independence











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