Iraqi Kurds dismiss accusations of supporting PKK

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Jalal Talibani and Kurdistan Democratic Party political bureau member Samy Abd El-Rahaman, denied accusations directed at them of sheltering members of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq and supporting the PKK's activities against Turkish forces in southern Turkey.

In press statements distributed by his party's bureau in Cairo, Talibani said the PUK has ordered the dispersal of all the bases of the PKK in El-Solmain town and other cities under the control of the PUK.

Actions carried out from Iraqi Kurdistan by the fighters of the PKK against Turkish forces have pushed Turkish forces to launch several attacks on northern Iraq.

Baghdad said Turkey was behind the killing and injury of hundreds of Iraqi Kurds.