Iraq wants Turkish troops out

Iraq yesterday condemned Turkey's incursion into northern Iraq to fight Kurdish guerrillas in the strongest terms so far and demanded an immediate end to what it called a violation of its sovereignty. Thousands of Turkish troops crossed the border last Thursday to root out PKK fighters who have used mountainous northern Iraq as a base for their fight for self-rule in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey since the 1990s.

"The cabinet expressed its rejection and condemnation for the Turkish military interference, which is considered a violation of Iraq's sovereignty," the Iraqi government said in a statement released by spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

"The cabinet stresses that unilateral military action is not acceptable and threatens good relations between the two neighbours."

Mr Dabbagh said earlier yesterday that a Turkish envoy would meet Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and government leaders including Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari in Baghdad today.

An Iraqi government source identified the envoy as Ahmet Davutoglu, a senior foreign policy adviser to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. Ankara has not confirmed this.

Turkish troops, backed by warplanes, attack helicopters and artillery, have been fighting Kurdish guerrillas at close quarters as they advance on Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) bases.

"Turkey is engaged in a legitimate fight against a terrorist organisation which has challenged Turkey's peace and security," Mr Erdogan told his AK Party in parliament.

"Turkey has the right to defend its unity and to fight people who try to harm that unity," he said, adding that Turkey respects Iraq's territorial integrity.

The Turkish General Staff said yesterday two more of its soldiers had been killed, taking the total to 19. It says at least 153 PKK fighters have been killed. PKK statements that 81 Turkish troops have been killed could not be verified.

The General Staff said heavy snow was hampering the advance of its troops towards PKK camps in the remote, mountainous area.

A senior military official in the US-led coalition in Iraq said about 2,000 Turkish troops were operating inside northern Iraq. Turkish officials have put the number at around 10,000.

A Turkish security source said most of the Turkish troops inside Iraq were involved in an attack on a key PKK command centre in the Zap valley after taking control of the PKK's Haftanin camp about five kilometres inside the Iraqi border.