Iraq Promises to Help Turkey Quell Kurd Militants

Foreign minister vows to limit PKK movements, cut funding
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 23, 2007 12:01 PM CDT
Iraq Promises to Help Turkey Quell Kurd Militants
An Iraqi solider stands guard before a press conference for Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at the Iraqi ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq. Turkey's foreign minister rejected any cease-fire by Kurdish rebels Tuesday...   (Associated Press)

Urging diplomacy, Iraq today pledged to help Turkey resolve border violence by Kurdish militants based in northern Iraq. Turkey kept the diplomatic wheels turning but wouldn't rule out military action to quell the PKK and rejected its offer of a ceasefire. Iraq’s foreign minister vowed to “actively help Turkey overcome this menace” by limiting militant movement and finances, the Times reports.

Turkey is under heavy pressure from the US to not upset one of the most stable areas of Iraq, but public outcry has escalated since a Sunday attack in which the PKK killed 12 Turkish soldiers and reportedly kidnapped eight. Turkey was shelling Iraq’s border yesterday as its PM flew to London for scheduled talks with Gordon Brown. (More Iraq stories.)

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