World Tribune.com: Turkish ruling council approves U.S. deployment

Turkish ruling council approves U.S. deployment

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Monday, February 3, 2003

ANKARA Ñ Turkey's ruling council has recommended the deployment of U.S. troops along the border with Iraq.

Turkish officials said that hours after Ankara's decision the United States began talks with Ankara over the deployment of paratroop units from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. Officials said Washington wants the paratroopers to arrive in Turkey within 10 days.

On Friday, Turkey's National Security Council recommended that U.S. troops be deployed in Turkey. The council, chaired by President Ahmet Sezer, urged for the government to obtain parliamentary approval for the deployment.

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Specifically, the council called on parliament to invoke a constitutional amendment that would allow for either the stationing of Turkish troops abroad or the deployment of foreign troops in the country.

The council is heavily influenced by the military, but has a plurality of members from the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.

Ankara has agreed to allow 20,000 U.S. troops to pass through Turkey on their way to Iraq. Around 2,000 soldiers from the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division are either in or on their way to Turkey. The soldiers are being supported by communications, intelligence and medical units.

The U.S. Defense Department has also requested to begin preparations for an upgrade of the Turkish air bases at Diyarbakir and Batman and the ports of Mersin and Iskenderun. Ankara is expected to agree to this request.

The council's recommendation came amid heightened alert by the military and security forces for an imminent U.S.-led attack on Iraq. The Turkish General Security Department has warned of insurgency attacks and ordered tighter security around U.S. and Western interests.

Last week, the Supreme Court in Ankara was struck by a bomb. No suspects have been arrested.

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