Turkey ends week-long incursion in N. Iraq
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, September 5, 2001
ANKARA Ñ Turkey has completed its military incursion in northern
Iraq.
Turkish military sources said thousands of troops returned to their
bases in Turkey after nearly a week of operations. The mission targeted
Kurdish insurgents in northern Iraq harbored by the regime of President
Saddam Hussein.
The mission included air and ground attacks on suspected Kurdish Workers
Party installations near Hakari. The sources said PKK agents were being
provided military and logistical support from the Saddam regime to operate
against Kurds in northern Iraq loyal to Ankara.
Kurdish sources had warned for months of an increasing presence of
Saddam's agents and Kurdish collaborators in the north. The sources said
Saddam has placed car bombs and imposed a reign of terror in parts of the
autonomous Kurdish area.
In the Turkish offensive, at least 15 PKK insurgents were killed, the
sources said. No Turkish casualties were reported.
Kurdish unrest was also reported throughout Turkey. The unrest was said
to have been sparked by a call by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan for
a new battle against Ankara.
"I'm calling on the parties, both the state and PKK to establish a means
of dialogue, and for our people to stand up for peace and democracy," Ocalan
said in a message. "If the hand for peace is emptied, 2002 will be the year
of war."
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