Turkish Forces Cross Into South Kur

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.cic.net>
Subject: Turkish Forces Cross Into South Kurdistan

Turkish Forces Cross Into Northern Iraq 

ISTANBUL, Dec 31 (Reuter) - Turkish troops, backed by air support, have
crossed into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish separatist rebels,
Turkey's armed forces said on Tuesday. 

A statement from the office of the general staff, quoted by Anatolian
news agency, said a brigade crossed into the region on Monday night
after troops came under fire along the border near the southeastern
Turkish town of Silopi. 

The operation was continuing on Tuesday. The statement did not give the
number of troops who crossed into Iraq but local officials said there
had been about 2,000 Turkish soldiers in the Silopi area. 

Turkish forces have in the passed staged several incursions into
northern Iraq in their fight against the PKK. 

More than 21,000 people have been killed in the 12-year-old conflict
between the security forces and the PKK who are fighting for autonomy or
independence in the mainly Kurdish southeast.