IRAQ-CONFLICT: Turkish troops cross border, no comment from Washington

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

ANKARA, Mar 22 2003 (IPS) - Around 1,000 Turkish troops have crossed the border into Iraq from at least two base camps, CNN Turk television reported early Saturday morning.

In Washington, the State Department would not immediately comment on the reports of the incursion. Spokesman Richard Boucher said earlier Friday that Turkish troops should not enter Iraq unless coordinated by US-led forces.

The troops crossed from the provinces of Silopi and Hakkari, CNN Turk reported.

The troop movements appear to be in direct defiance of US wishes that the Turkish military stay out of northern Iraq.

There are concerns in Washington over the potential for clashes between Turkish troops and Iraqi Kurdish forces, with some Iraqi Kurdish groups saying they will actively resist any Turkish "invasion". Any such clashes would be a publicity nightmare for Washington.

The United States is also concerned that a large force of Turkish soldiers could result in friendly-fire incidents with US forces.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday night that Turkey wanted troops in the area to stop refugees from reaching the Turkish border, to stop any rebels from the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) from using the war in Iraq to restart its own guerilla war in Turkey, and to stop the Iraqi Kurds from declaring independence.