Turkey runs out patience on Kurdish rebels after rebel attack

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-26-2007 10:15

A Turkish soldier patrols the southeastern Turkish province of Sirnak October 25, 2007. Turkish forces said they repelled a Kurdish rebel attack near the Iraqi border and President Abdullah Gul warned the PKK on Thursday that Turkey's patience was running out. (Reuters)

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said his country is running out of patience and will not tolerate Kurdish rebels' use of Iraqi soil to launch attacks.

In a speech opening the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization foreign ministers' meeting in Ankara on Thursday, President Abdullah Gul put pressure on

Iraq's Kurdish population to act against rebels from the PKK.

Abdullah Gul, Turkish president, said, "Iraq should not be a source of threat for its neighbors. As you all well know, the PKK terrorist organization is using Iraq as a base, and is attacking Turkey's vital interests."

Gul is also calling for economic measures against Iraq, since the self-ruling Kurdish administration in Iraq's north relies heavily on Turkish investment.