HIrgUr MUstemleke; Sanki Fiyasko Ha

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

From: tabe at newsdesk.aps.nl
Subject: HIrgUr MUstemleke; Sanki Fiyasko Haberler
Reply-To: kurdeng at aps.nl


Turks Kill 7 Kurdish Rebels

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AP) -- Turkish soldiers killed seven Kurdish rebels Sunday
in three separate clashes in southeastern Turkey, officials said.

Kurdish rebels have been fighting for autonomy in the area since 1984. More
than 15,000 people have died in the conflict.

The fighting came less than a week after Turkey withdrew troops from northern
Iraq to end a six-week operation to wipe out rebel camps in the Kurd-controlled
area. At the operation's height, some 35,000 troops took part.

Iraq blasts Demirel over Turkey border remarks

By Leon Barkho

BAGHDAD, May 7 (Reuter) - Iraq lashed out at Turkish President Suleyman Demirel
on Sunday as relations between the two neighbours soured over border issues and
contacts with Kurdish rebels.

For a third day, state-owned newspapers carried editorials and commentaries
lambasting Turkey and stressing that Baghdad would do everything possible to
thwart any bid by Ankara to establish a foothold in northern Iraq.

Turkey last week ended a six-week drive into northern Iraq in pursuit of rebels
of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), who use bases there to launch
attacks inside Turkey.

Iraq is particularly unhappy with direct contacts between Turkish government
officials and Iraqi Kurdish rebel leaders, which it sees as luring them further
away from its authority.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is talking with Turkish officials about
ways to guard the international borders against future infiltration of PKK
guerrillas.

In return, Ankara is pledging relief for Iraqi Kurds. U.N. relief officials in
Baghdad say Turkey has earmarked $12 million in humanitarian aid and provided
electricity to Dahouk province.

Baghdad views the rapprochement between Ankara and the Iraqi Kurdish rebels as
a violation of sovereignty and interference in its domestic affairs. Iraq also
reacted angrily to statements attributed to Demirel demanding a redrawing of
their joint border to stop infiltration by the PKK.

Turkey's foreign ministry last Monday denied the reports, also carried by
Turkish newspapers, that Demirel wanted to redraw the border.

Al-Thawra, the newspaper of the ruling Baath party, was particularly critical
of Demirel, accusing him of attempts to revive Turkish imperial dreams.

In the sharpest attack on Demirel so far, it branded him "the sick janissary,"
a reference to the Turkish sultans' guard established in the 14th century. It
said Demirel was trying to play the role of former Turkish sultans, harbouring
greedy intentions towards Iraq.

"Beware...Demirel salivates over... Baghdad... Basra... and...Mosul," it said.
"Beware, the Pasha (Demirel) would like to return to Amadiya, Arbil and Kirkuk
...It is an old wound and past vengeance."

Turkey's charge d'affaires in Baghdad said Turkey had no intention of raising
the demarcation issue but underlined Ankara's displeasure with the way the
borders stand now.

Iraq's ruling Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) said in a statement on
Thursday that Baghdad would resist with all available means any Turkish attempt
to change the borders.

Baghdad newspapers, contrary to diplomatic practice, published in full the
Turkish foreign ministry's reply, which the RCC said it found unsatisfactory.

The Turkish talks with Kurdish leaders and remarks on borders have brought
bilateral ties to their lowest level ever.

U.N. relief officials in Baghdad say the flow of trucks from Turkey to Iraq has
been reduced to a trickle and there are no signs of meetings between senior
officials of the two countries. Iraq accuses Turkey of playing U.S. lackey in
the region by supporting the presence of allied planes on its territory to
protect rebel Kurds from possible attacks by Iraqi armed forces.

The two neighbours also have differences on water. Baghdad charges that Ankara
is pirating of the region's water by building dams and canals on the Euphrates
River.

The Turks were Iraq's rulers for about four centuries until British forces
drove their armies out, leading to establishment of the new Iraqi state after
World War One.


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 * Origin: APS Amsterdam (aps.nl), bbs +31-20-6842147 (16:31/2.0)