Relations with Iraq Become Explosive

ANKARA, Oct 30 (IPS) - Clashes between Turkish army units and Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas intensified during the weekend along Turkey's borders with northern Iraq and in the country's eastern province of Tunceli. Twenty suspected Kurdish rebels were killed, according to Turkish NTV network.

Fighting in the district of Pulumur began Sunday morning, involving 8,000 Turkish security troops, backed by helicopter gunships, who surrounded rural Dokuzkaya, Sariyayla, Kizilmescit and Zagge areas located in the Pulumur and Nazimiye districts of Tunceli. The highway that gives access to the rest of the province was cut off.

Tunceli is situated 650 kilometres (400 miles) northeast of Hakkari, the area on the Turkish-Iraqi border where the most recent attacks by PKK had taken place. Tunceli is a stronghold of Kurdish separatists.

Sources close to the government believe the attack followed information that PKK was planning subversive actions in Pulumur to coincide with the celebration of the 84th anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish republic on Oct. 29.

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have launched several raids on PKK positions within northern Iraq since Friday. TSK has deployed 100,000 to 150,000 troops, tanks and heavy artillery along the frontier in preparation for a major offensive within Iraqi soil. Three thousand special security agents were posted during the weekend on key positions along the border.

The escalation of the hostilities has triggered anger in the ranks of the Iraqi government against Ankara. More...