All news

US urges Iraq to shut offices of Kurdish rebels

WASHINGTON, Oct 24, 2007 (AFP) - The United States urged Iraq Wednesday to follow-through on a new promise to shut the offices of Kurdish rebels battling Turkish forces, noting that Baghdad made the same vow 13 months ago.

"We can understand why the Turks would be skeptical, because that pledge was made, it does need to be fulfilled and we'll be talking to the Iraqis about that, as well," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Tuesday that his government would close down the offices of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and not allow the "terrorist" group to operate on Iraqi soil.

"The PKK is a bad terrorist organization and we have taken a decision to close its offices and not allow them to work on Iraqi soil," Maliki said in a statement issued after he met visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.

But Iraq's fledgling government had made a nearly identical promise in mid-September 2006.

"The PKK continues to engage in illegal activities in Iraq and may have offices under various names," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told reporters at the time.

"So for this reason and others, the Iraqi government has decided to close all its offices," he said.