EuroNews, France
Oct 12 2007

Iraqi raid plans deepen Turkey-US row

With Turkey preparing for a possible strike against the PKK in Iraq,
the Kurdish rebels have threatened to widen their attacks against
Turkish targets. Turkish plans for an anti-terrorist operation to
counter cross-border raids by the PKK have worried the US. Washington
fears it would further destabilise northern Iraq. But Ankara, whose
troops are coming under increasing rebel attack, is in no mood to
listen to American concerns.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signalled his country is
willing to risk angering Washington. This comes after a congressional
committee outraged Turkey by voting to call the 1915 massacre of
Armenians genocide. Turkey is a key US ally in the region, vital as a
supply base for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now Erdogan has said the genocide vote, pushed through by Democrats
but opposed by the White House, has put cooperation with the US at
risk. Erdogan’s government is to seek approval from parliament next
week for an operation in Iraq.

Some analysts think Ankara will ultimately hold off, in line with US
demands. But relations between the two allies have rarely been lower.