Border tension continues between Turkey, Iraq

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-16-2007 13:49

Turkish soldiers from a platoon patrol at dawn to monitor the surrounding mountains on a road near Uludere in the southeastern Turkish province of Sirnak, October 15, 2007. (Reuters)

Turkey's cabinet has asked parliament for permission to attack Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq. Meanwhile, over in Baghdad, the Iraqi government continues calls on Turkey not to use military force but to seek a diplomatic solution to the border crisis.

Turkey has sent a tank to its border with Iraq. This came as Turkey's cabinet was asking parliament for permission to pursue rebels from the Kurdish Workers Party, or the PKK.

Parliament is expected to approve the motion Wednesday. That will provide a legal basis for military action -- possibly several incursions -- over a year.

But Turkey insists it still hopes this will not be necessary. A government spokesman says Turkey's sole target, if its troops enter northern Iraq, will be PKK militants.

He has also repeatedly criticized Iraq's failure to take action against the PKK on its territory.

Iraq's government urged Turkey not to resort to military action Monday, and to seek a diplomatic solution to end attacks by Kurdish militants.

An Iraqi government spokesman has urged Turkey to be "wise and patient" while dealing with the issue. He also notes the security accord the two neighbors signed late last month.

Under the accord, Iraq and Turkey promise to take all necessary measures to combat the PKK and other militant groups and hold meetings every six months to coordinate their work.