The Turkish government drafted a motion today seeking parliamentary authority for the military to cross into Iraq to fight Kurdish separatist rebels who have been taking refuge in the mountainous border region. The motion, which allow cross-border military action for a year, is aimed solely at the Kurdistan WorkersÂ’ Party, or P.K.K., according to a government spokesman, Cemil Cicek, speaking a televised news conference. It appears likely to pass on Wednesday. Less clear is when the approval would be translated into military action.
Turkey and Iraq signed an accord last month pledging cooperation in combating the group but the accords specifically denied Turkey the right to cross into Iraq, even in “hot pursuit” of rebels. The Kurdish administration in northern Iraq strongly opposes any incursion by the Turkish Army and has not supported previous agreements to cooperate between the Iraqi government and Turkey. |