Turkey blames Iraq for yesterday's clash with US jets

Turkey fully blamed Iraq for the new military confrontation that took place yesterday in northern Iraq, urging the concerned parties to refrain from carrying out any provocative action that might threaten stability and security in the area.

Meanwhile, Iraq said that four Iraqi soldiers were killed and that an US jet was downed during the clash in southern Iraq. British and US jets are still flying over northern Iraq.

An Iraqi source said, "Iraq is determined to prove it is a victim of the Western aggression and at the same time it is ready to defend itself and its lands."

An Iraqi military spokesman said that several "enemy jets" on Monday morning violated Iraqi airspace and raided an Iraqi air-defense base which he said intercepted the warplanes and forced them to retreat to their bases in Turkey. The spokesman added that in the afternoon the jets came back and fired missiles against an Iraqi position in the area.

Meanwhile, Arab and international media and political circles continued their condemnation of the US - British aggression against Iraq.

Iraq said it will demand compensation of more than US $2 million for destroying a store of 2,600 tonnes of rice during the US - British attacks against Iraq earlier this month.

Iraqi Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi Saleh said that the store, which was destroyed in the city of Tikrit, contained amounts of rice at a cost of US $1 million, adding that the facility itself was worth US $1 million.

On the oil-for-food program Saleh said, "This program will continue naturally until its termination period by the end of May."