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| Europe |
| Turkey: Parliament moves to extend cross-border raids |
| 2008-09-23 |
| (AKI) - The Turkish government on Monday submitted a parliamentary motion to extend its authorisation for cross-border operations in northern Iraq. The motion, cited by Turkish media reports, said that separatists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) took shelter in the north of Iraq and called for a one-year extension of its authorisation. It said the PKK continued to threaten the peace, security, national unity and territorial integrity of Turkey. The motion said Turkey also attached importance to the protection of territorial integrity, national unity and the stability of Iraq. The current motion is due to expire on 17 October. According to the Turkish website Hurriyet, officials from both Turkey's opposition parties, the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), supported the motion, while the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) officials declared their opposition. Turkey, backed by US intelligence by the United States, has stepped up military action against the outlawed PKK since December. Turkey carried out several air strikes and conducted a week-long ground incursion into northern Iraq in February. |
| Posted by:Fred |