Iraq condemns new Turkish incursion into its territories
Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 10/1/1999

Turkish Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu on Thursday said the Turkish Army has incurred in northern Iraq, targeting the Kurdish rebels. The Turkish minister added that this operation "will continue until the shelters of the terrorists in the region will be eliminated."

Baghdad retaliated by calling on Ankara to "immediately withdraw its forces from the Iraqi territories."

The Turkish minister said there is a vacuum in the authority in northern Iraq, a matter which facilitates "terrorist activities."

The Iraqi News Agency quoted a spokesman for the Iraqi government as saying that Iraq strongly condemns this new Turkish invasion of the Iraqi territories and reserves its right to set the timing for retaliating for this aggressive act as well as its place. The Iraqi spokesman added that Baghdad "Holds Turkey fully responsibile for its repeated acts of aggression and its violation of Iraqi sovereignty."

On Monday, some 5,000 Turkish soldiers backed by "village guards" and helicopters started an operation in northern Iraq from three centers on the borders.

Security sources reported that armed men from the Kurdistani Democratic Party led by Masoud Barzani are helping Turkey.

However, Turkey often carries out repeated operations against the rebels who take northern Iraq as a back base for their operations.

The Turkish minister, on the other hand, refused the calls addressed by the leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, from his jail to his supporters to drop their weapons. The minister considered Ocalan's statements as "insincere."

Previous Stories:
  Clinton, Ecevit discuss Iraq   (9/29/1999)
  Turkey accepts Iraqi aid despite US views   (9/1/1999)
  Iraq presents aid to Turkey   (8/30/1999)

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