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Turkey prepares to join ground assault in Afghanistan

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Saturday, September 15, 2001

ANKARA Ñ Turkey's military is bracing for a call from the United States to participate in any ground invasion in Afghanistan.

Turkish defense sources said the military is on alert for a call to join the ground forces of Britain and the United States to enter Afghanistan.

They said Turkish officers have arrived in Washington to discuss the issue with the Pentagon.

Ankara hopes to be briefed on the U.S. needs as well as the prospect that allied troops in Afghanistan would encounter nonconventional weapons, such as biological or chemical weapons. The sources said the government of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has approved the sending of Turkish forces to Afghanistan. The decision awaits endorsement of parliament.

"The operation started by the United States is in the interests of all humanity," Ecevit said. "Turkey should contribute to the operation as much as possible."

Ankara has allowed Britain and the United States use of Turkey's air space. Turkey has also shared intelligence with its NATO allies.

Officials said one fear is that a ground invasion of Afghanistan would result in the widening of the war in several neighboring Central Asian countries. The result would be a flow of refugees into Turkey from Uzbekistan.

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