Turkey shells Kurdish rebel positions

ANKARA -Turkish troops shelled suspected Kurdish rebel positions across the border in Iraq, a government official said yesterday as civilian and military leaders discussed the scope and duration of a possible offensive into northern Iraq.

Turkish artillery units shelled rebel positions as recently as Tuesday night after a rebel ambush on Sunday that killed 12 soldiers near the border, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. He did not say which areas were targeted and refused to give further information.The official denied a newspaper report of a Turkish air strike against northern Iraq, and only confirmed shelling of rebel positions by artillery units.Iraqi Kurdish officials also confirmed Turkish shelling along the border over the weekend.Turkey, which has moved troops to the Iraq border, warned Iraq and Western allies on Tuesday that a Turkish incursion is imminent unless the US-backed government in Baghdad takes action, and said there would be no cease-fire with the separatist fighters.Turkey’s military and civilian leaders held a National Security Council meeting yesdteray to discuss a possible operation as they face growing demands at home to stage the offensive in northern Iraq, where the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party – the PKK – rest, train and get supplies in relative safety before returning to Turkey to conduct attacks.A high-level delegation from Iraq was expected to visit Ankara on Thursday, the state-run Anatolia news agency said.Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, returning late on Tuesday from Baghdad, said, “We said that we are expecting them to come with concrete proposals and otherwise the visit will have no meaning.”The United States issued its most direct demand yet for anti-rebel measures from Iraqi Kurds who hold effective autonomy over territory where Turkish Kurd guerrillas have camps.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the closure of all offices belonging to the PKK in Iraq and said they would not be allowed to operate in Iraqi territory.”We need more than words,” Babacan said.”We said that preventing the PKK from using the Iraqi soil, an end to logistical support and all PKK activities inside Iraq and closing of its camps are needed.We also said its leaders need to be arrested and extradited to Turkey.”During the funerals Tuesday of 12 soldiers slain in the weekend ambush, tens of thousands mourners chanted slogans urging the government to order an incursion.Nampa-APHe did not say which areas were targeted and refused to give further information.The official denied a newspaper report of a Turkish air strike against northern Iraq, and only confirmed shelling of rebel positions by artillery units.Iraqi Kurdish officials also confirmed Turkish shelling along the border over the weekend.Turkey, which has moved troops to the Iraq border, warned Iraq and Western allies on Tuesday that a Turkish incursion is imminent unless the US-backed government in Baghdad takes action, and said there would be no cease-fire with the separatist fighters.Turkey’s military and civilian leaders held a National Security Council meeting yesdteray to discuss a possible operation as they face growing demands at home to stage the offensive in northern Iraq, where the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party – the PKK – rest, train and get supplies in relative safety before returning to Turkey to conduct attacks.A high-level delegation from Iraq was expected to visit Ankara on Thursday, the state-run Anatolia news agency said.Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, returning late on Tuesday from Baghdad, said, “We said that we are expecting them to come with concrete proposals and otherwise the visit will have no meaning.”The United States issued its most direct demand yet for anti-rebel measures from Iraqi Kurds who hold effective autonomy over territory where Turkish Kurd guerrillas have camps.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the closure of all offices belonging to the PKK in Iraq and said they would not be allowed to operate in Iraqi territory.”We need more than words,” Babacan said.”We said that preventing the PKK from using the Iraqi soil, an end to logistical support and all PKK activities inside Iraq and closing of its camps are needed.We also said its leaders need to be arrested and extradited to Turkey.”During the funerals Tuesday of 12 soldiers slain in the weekend ambush, tens of thousands mourners chanted slogans urging the government to order an incursion.Nampa-AP