Turkey hits back at Iraqi Kurdish leader over independence, Kirkuk
18h36 - ANKARA, Feb 27, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish leaders warned Iraqi Kurds Tuesday that their claims to the ethnically volatile, oil-rich city of Kirkuk in Iraq and talk of independence would fuel conflict in the region, Anatolia news agency reported.

Kurdish mayor fined in Turkey for pro-rebel gesture
13h00 - ANKARA, Feb 27, 2007 (AFP) - A Kurdish mayor was fined 3,000 lira (about 2,200 dollars, 1,650 euros) Tuesday for allowing women to use an official vehicle when they marked the birthday of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan two years ago, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Iraq oil law boosts Kurdish ambitions
12h13 - BAGHDAD, Feb 27, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's new draft oil law has been hailed as a victory for Iraqi unity but, in the short term at least, the autonomous region of Kurdistan is likely to benefit the most, experts say.

Iran kills three Kurdish rebel chiefs
08h17 - TEHRAN, Feb 27, 2007 (AFP) - Iranian forces have killed three local chiefs of a Kurdish rebel group that has been involved in deadly clashes with the military close to the Turkish border, a commander said on Tuesday.

Turkish PM criticizes Iraqi Kurdish leader over Kirkuk
07h54 - ANKARA, Feb 27, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected Iraqi Kurdish claims to the ethnically volatile, oil-rich city of Kirkuk and warned that such an attitude would pave the way for more conflict in the war-torn country, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Kurdish party leaders jailed in Turkey over leaflet
11h00 - ANKARA, Feb 26, 2007 (AFP) - A Turkish court Monday jailed two leaders of the country's main Kurdish party for 18 months over a Woman's Day leaflet, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Iraqi Kurdish leader says ready for dialogue with Turkey
10h51 - ANKARA, Feb 26, 2007 (AFP) - The president of Iraqi Kurdistan called on Turkey for face-to-face talks to end high-running tensions over Turkish Kurd rebels based in his autonomous region in northern Iraq, in a television interview broadcast here Monday.

14 Iranian troops killed in helicopter crash
09h18 - TEHRAN, Feb 26, 2007 (AFP) - Fourteen Iranian military personnel were killed in a helicopter crash last week during an operation against rebels close to the Turkish border, the Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Monday.

Kurdish group claims it downed Iranian helicopter
09h32 - ARBIL, Iraq, Feb 25, 2007 (AFP) - A Kurdish rebel group fighting in Iran claimed on Sunday it had shot down an Iranian helicopter which Tehran had reported as having had an accident caused by bad weather.

130 Kurds hidden on fishing boat disembarque in Italy
20h35 - ROME, Feb 24, 2007 (AFP) - Some 130 Kurdish illegal immigrants landed Saturday on the southern Italian shores of Calabria, just days after 19 people drowned trying to reach Sicily, a media report said.

Iraqi Kurdish troops heading to Baghdad
13h10 - ARBIL, Iraq, Feb 24, 2007 (AFP) - A Kurdish brigade of the Iraqi army set off on Saturday for Baghdad to take part in a massive joint US and Iraqi military operation to pacify the city, its commander said.

Alleged PKK members released in France
21h04 - PARIS, Feb 23, 2007 (AFP) - A French appeals court on Friday freed eight Kurds suspected of links to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, but prevented them from leaving the Paris area, their lawyers said.

Turkey to step up diplomacy over Kurdish rebels in Iraq
19h42 - ANKARA, Feb 23, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's top security body said Friday the government should step up diplomatic initiatives to resolve a row with Iraq and the United States over Turkish Kurd rebels based in northern Iraq.

Three Kurdish politicians arrested in Turkey
13h38 - DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Feb 23, 2007 (AFP) - A senior Kurdish politician was arrested here Friday over remarks that allegedly threatened violence in Turkey, following the arrest of two other Kurdish activists overnight, officials said.

Iraq warns Turkey against cross-border operation
14h51 - ANKARA, Feb 21, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi urged Turkey Wednesday to stop threatening cross-border military operations against Turkish Kurd rebels based in northern Iraq, saying unilateral action will not help resolve problems.

Syria releases key Kurdish activist
17h04 - DAMASCUS, Feb 17, 2007 (AFP) - Syrian authorities have released the deputy head of the banned Kurdish political party Yakiti, who was arrested nearly two months ago, a human rights group said Saturday.

Turkish army chief accuses Iraqi Kurds of supporting rebels
15h17 - ANKARA, Feb 17, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's army chief has accused the two main Kurdish factions in neighbouring northern Iraq of supporting Turkish Kurd rebels, the Anatolia news agency reported Saturday.

Iraq FM guards killed in ambush
17h46 - BAGHDAD, Feb 15, 2007 (AFP) - Three off-duty guards working for Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari were killed in an ambush in northern Iraq late Thursday, a police officer said.

Turkish Kurd on hunger strike at Zurich airport
18h34 - GENEVA, Feb 13, 2007 (AFP) - A Turkish Kurd who has been in detention at Zurich airport since December 2005 has gone on hunger strike in protest at his proposed extradition to Turkey, a Swiss human rights group said on Tuesday.

Saddam's military intelligence chief downplays Anfal role
17h44 - BAGHDAD, Feb 13, 2007 (AFP) - The former head of Saddam Hussein's military intelligence service took the stand Tuesday in his war crimes trial, protesting that his role was only to gather information not bomb villages.

Ten Kurds placed under investigation in France over 'terror funding'
02h26 - PARIS, Feb 10, 2007 (AFP) - Ten Kurds have been placed under investigation in France after being arrested on suspicion of money-laundering on behalf of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), officials said on Friday.

Five Kurds placed under investigation in France over 'terror funding'
18h22 - PARIS, Feb 9, 2007 (AFP) - Five Kurds from Turkey have been placed under investigation in France after being arrested on suspicion of money-laundering on behalf of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), officials said on Friday.

Iraqi and US forces push into Baghdad flashpoints
14h42 - BAGHDAD, Feb 9, 2007 (AFP) - US and Iraqi forces clamped down on flashpoint districts of Baghdad Friday, focusing on insurgent and militia hotbeds as a joint operation to restore order in the capital lumbered into action.

Iraqi group unveils 'billion-dollar' Kurdish trade centre
13h35 - ARBIL, Iraq, Feb 9, 2007 (AFP) - An Iraqi consortium has completed the first stage of what was billed Friday as the billion-dollar Nishan Trade Center in Arbil, northern Iraq and is to boast three 25-storey office towers.

US forces kill five Kurdish police
12h38 - MOSUL, Iraq, Feb 9, 2007 (AFP) - US helicopter gunships killed five Kurdish policemen -- normally staunch allies of American forces -- on Friday, during a clash in the volatile northern city of Mosul, a military statement said.

US, Turkey, discuss Kurdish rebels, Iraq
23h56 - WASHINGTON, Feb 6, 2007 (AFP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged her Turkish counterpart Tuesday not to resort to military action against Kurdish rebels harboring in neighboring Iraq, a senior official said.

13 Kurds arrested in France over 'terror financing'
16h27 - PARIS, Feb 5, 2007 (AFP) - Thirteen Kurds from Turkey were arrested near Paris on Monday on suspicion of money-laundering on behalf of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), police said.

Syria jails 12 young Kurds
21h20 - DAMASCUS, Feb 4, 2007 (AFP) - Twelve young Kurds, including three minors, were sentenced on Sunday to jail terms of between two-and-half and seven-and-a-half years for "membership of a secret organisation", a human rights organisation said.

Mass grave of Kurds found in southern Iraq
17h43 - SAMAWA, Iraq, Feb 1, 2007 (AFP) - A grave containing the bodies of 200-250 Kurdish prisoners has been found in the deserted province of Muthanna near the border with Saudi Arabia, a provincial official said on Thursday.