EuroNews, France
Oct 13 2007
Military action looms as Turkey threatens the Kurds
The long-running clashes between Turkey and Kurdish rebels are
threatening to spiral out of control. The Kurds warned they may take
their armed campaign into southern Turkey after Ankara announced
preparations to attack them across the border in Iraq. Rebels from
the Kurdish Workers Party, or PKK, use northern Iraq as a base to
attack Turkey. They’re fighting for a Kurdish homeland, and are
blamed for more than 30 thousand deaths since their armed struggle
began in 1984.
Turkey accepts it will cause widespread outrage if it attacks the
rebels inside Iraq. But Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shrugged
off criticism, notably from Washington, saying America invaded Iraq
without asking anyone’s permission.
Turkish military action became more likely after a US Congressional
Committee branded the killing of more than a million Armenians in the
First World War as genocide. It outraged Turkey, and Erdogan moved
troops to the border. A campaign into Iraq could be approved as early
as next week.
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