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Turkey warns Kurds, Baghdad urges swift withdrawal
CIZRE, Turkey - The Turkish army Sunday warned Iraqi Kurds not to shelter Kurdish rebels fleeing its military offensive in northern Iraq, as Baghdad labelled the incursion a threat to its sovereignty.As fighting intensified, the army said it had killed another 33 militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), taking the rebel toll, according to Turkish figures, to 112 since the cross-border incursion began Thursday evening. PKK rebels are trying to The warning raised the spectre of a potential confrontation with the autonomous regions Kurdish-run administration, and just hours later Baghdad called for a swift Turkish withdrawal. A statement issued by the government of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki urged Turkey to withdraw its forces from Iraqi soil as soon possible and specifically described the operation as a threat to Iraqi sovereignty. Previously, Baghdad had appeared to accept Turkeys assertions that the offensive posed no threat to its territorial integrity. Posted by: Steve White 2008-02-25 |
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