Seven people kidnapped by Kurdish rebels return to Turkey: official
19h43 - ANKARA, Nov 30, 2007 (AFP) - Seven people who were kidnapped by Kurdish rebels in eastern Turkey in early November returned home from Iran on Friday, the Turkish interior ministry said.

Turkish army 'authorised' for Iraq strike: PM
14h12 - ANKARA, Nov 30, 2007 (AFP) - The Turkish government authorised the army this week to carry out a cross-border strike against Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.

Muslim leader threatens 'reactions' if Norway expels him: report
11h38 - OSLO, Nov 29, 2007 (AFP) - Mullah Krekar, the founder of radical Islamist group Ansar al-Islam, has warned there will be "reactions" against Norway if it goes ahead with a court ruling to expel him, NRK television reported Thursday.

Germany hands over two Kurdish militants to Turkey: ministry
11h10 - ANKARA, Nov 29, 2007 (AFP) - Germany has extradited to Turkey two separatist Kurdish militants wanted for deadly attacks against civilians and security forces, the Turkish justice ministry said in a statement Thursday.

27 Iraqi Kurdish women die in 'honour killings'
12h40 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 26, 2007 (AFP) - At least 27 women have died in so-called "honour killings" over the past four months in northern Kurdish Iraq, an official from the regional government said Monday.

Iraq Kurds defy Baghdad on oil deals
07h35 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 26, 2007 (AFP) - The autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq defied Baghdad on Monday, vowing to sign more contracts with international oil firms despite the national government's opposition.

Police, Kurdish protestors clash in Turkey
15h39 - DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish police on Sunday used tear gas to disperse hundreds of Kurds demonstrating here in favour of separatist rebels fighting the government, an AFP correspondent said.

Iran arrests 11 Kurdish rebels: ministry
12h38 - TEHRAN, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) - Iranian security forces arrested 11 members of the outlawed Kurdish separatist group PJAK in the western Kordestan province, the Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.

Turkish, US generals discuss Kurd rebels; PM sees 'critical' stage
16h04 - ANKARA, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish and US commanders on Saturday discussed measures against Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq, while Turkey's prime minister said the struggle against the separatists was at a "critical stage."

US, Turkish military hold new talks on Kurdish rebels: army
14h39 - ANKARA, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) - Top Turkish and US military officials held talks here Saturday on joint efforts to combat Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq in the second such meeting this week, the Turkish army said.

Kurdish writers say threatened by PKK: newspaper
12h55 - ANKARA, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) - Several leading Kurdish writers are being threatened by rebels for criticising their violent campaign in southeast Turkey, they said in remarks published Saturday.

Turkish PM says more democracy will finish off Kurdish rebels
11h30 - ANKARA, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a strong appeal Saturday for expanding the democratic rights of the Kurdish community to erode support for separatism and finish off rebels.

Iraq nullifies Kurdish oil deals
09h13 - BAGHDAD, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's oil ministry has declared all crude contracts signed by the Kurdish regional authorities with foreign companies null and void, a government official said on Saturday.

Turkish court confirms move against Kurdish party: official
11h57 - ANKARA, Nov 23, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's Constitutional Court has found no procedural flaws in an indictment seeking to ban the country's main Kurdish party and will pursue the case, a senior court official said Friday.

Protesting Kurds demand 'Chemical Ali' hanged
17h29 - RIZGARY, Iraq, Nov 22, 2007 (AFP) - Around 1,500 people Thursday staged a protest in Iraq's northern Kurdish region demanding that death sentences imposed on "Chemical Ali" and two other cohorts of Saddam Hussein for the slaughter of ethnic Kurds be carried out.

Turkey lauds Iraqi Kurds for action against rebels: Anatolia
13h04 - ANKARA, Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's President Abdullah Gul praised Iraqi Kurds on Wednesday for taking steps against Kurdish rebels based in their autonomous region but warned it retained the option of a military strike, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Iraq Kurds brush off Baghdad warning on oil deals
11h14 - BAGHDAD, Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) - The Iraqi Kurds brushed off on Wednesday threats by the central government in Baghdad to blacklist oil firms which sign contracts with the Kurdish regional government ahead of a new national oil law.

Struggle never ends for Iraqi Kurds in Kirkuk
05h31 - KIRKUK, Iraq, Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) - Driven from their homes in 1987 by Saddam Hussein because they were Kurds, the Fakeh and Nasser families have now returned to the northeastern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

Turkish minister warns military action in Iraq still possible
15h39 - BRUSSELS, Nov 20, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan warned Tuesday that his country was still prepared to launch military action against rebel Kurds based in nothern Iraq if need arose.

Kurdish Iranian refugees dream of return home
05h06 - BAHARKA, Iraq, Nov 19, 2007 (AFP) - Iranian Kurds living in a sprawling refugee camp in Kurdish northern Iraq dream of returning home, voicing hope that the United States will use its might to overthrow the Tehran regime and make that wish come true.

Iraqi Kurds bay for blood of 'Chemical Ali'
08h49 - SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq, Nov 18, 2007 (AFP) - Kurdish victims of the Anfal campaign bayed for blood on Sunday as Iraq indicated the hanging of "Chemical Ali", one of the masterminds of the slaughter, may be delayed indefinitely.

Iraqi Kurds flex muscles over black gold reserves
03h05 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 18, 2007 (AFP) - Despite a veto from Baghdad, Iraqi Kurds have signed contracts with foreign firms to exploit their huge oil reserves which they vow will benefit the whole country.

Turkish police break up Kurdish party rally
15h15 - ANKARA, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - Police arrested 10 people in eastern Turkey on Saturday as they broke up with warning shots and tear gas a rally by a Kurdish party that authorities are trying to ban, media reports said.

For Kurds, Iraq is a distant memory
11h19 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - In Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region the official line is clear: there is no question of declaring independence. But in the regional capital Arbil, Baghdad seems more distant each passing day.

Turkish strike in Iraq 'almost certain': Talabani
19h34 - KUWAIT CITY, Nov 16, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Friday a Turkish strike on Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq was "almost certain", Kuwait's state news agency KUNA reported.

Suspect injured trying to plant bomb in Turkey: report
16h45 - ANKARA, Nov 16, 2007 (AFP) - Police arrested a person trying to plant a bomb in a government building in western Turkey Friday, after the device accidentally blew up and injured the suspect in the leg, media reports said.

Turkish authorities seek to ban Kurdish party
14h07 - ANKARA, Nov 16, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish prosecutors on Friday started legal action to ban the main Kurd political party in Turkey, which has been accused of colluding with Kurdish rebels.

Turkish authorities seek to ban main Kurdish party
10h51 - ANKARA, Nov 16, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish prosecutors on Friday started action to ban the main pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey, which has been accused of colluding with Kurdish rebels.

Turkish authorities seek to ban main Kurdish party: reports
09h48 - ANKARA, Nov 16, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish prosecutors on Friday started action to ban the main pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey, which has been accused of colluding with Kurdish rebels, television channels reported.

Turkish authorities seek to ban main Kurdish party: report
09h42 - ANKARA, Nov 16, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish prosecutors on Friday started action to ban the main pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey, which has been accused of colluding with Kurdish rebels, television channels reported.

Turkey preparing for cross-border strike in Iraq: general
21h04 - ANKARA, Nov 15, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey is preparing for a military strike against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, a senior general said Thursday, but gave no details on the timing or scale of such an operation.

Iraq to blacklist firms which signed oil deals with Kurds
11h28 - RIYADH, Nov 15, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq warned on Thursday that foreign oil companies which signed deals with the autonomous Kurdish regional government will be barred from doing business in the country and from exporting oil.

Iraq to punish firms which signed oil deals with Kurds
10h11 - RIYADH, Nov 15, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq said on Thursday that foreign oil companies which signed deals with the autonomous Kurdish regional government will be barred from doing business in the country and from exporting oil.

Kurds in remote village fear Turkish attack on elusive rebels
05h11 - KHIZAVA, Iraq, Nov 15, 2007 (AFP) - Nervous Iraqi Kurds in the impoverished village of Khizava along the border with Turkey are awaiting a Turkish attack on Kurdish rebels, although many believe the guerrillas will prove elusive.

Turkish air force chief denies cross-border air raids into Iraq
21h14 - ANKARA, Nov 14, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's prime minister and air force chief denied Wednesday that Turkish warplanes had conducted raids in northern Iraq against separatist Kurdish rebels.

Turkey says intelligence-sharing with US underway
17h44 - ANKARA, Nov 14, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey said Wednesday that the United States had begun to share intelligence on Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, and reaffirmed its readiness for cross-border military strikes if necessary.

Iraq's Talabani says no danger of Turkish 'invasion'
14h34 - CAIRO, Nov 14, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani ruled out a Turkish "invasion" of his country and said the cross-border crisis over Kurdish rebels was easing, in an interview published on Wednesday.

Christians seek safe haven in Iraq's Kurdish region
05h31 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 14, 2007 (AFP) - Threats by Islamists followed by a car bomb that wounded her brother forced Lina Behnan and her family to seek haven in Iraq's Kurdish region along with thousands of their Christian compatriots.

Four troops dead in clashes with Kurd rebels
15h49 - ANKARA, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish troops fought Kurdish rebels near the Iraqi border on Tuesday in clashes that left four soldiers dead as Turkey reportedly hit Kurdish targets inside northern Iraq.

Turkish soldiers killed in clash with Kurdish rebels: army
14h53 - DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) - Four soldiers, one of them an officer, were killed in fighting with Kurdish rebels Tuesday in southeast Turkey close to the Iraqi border, the Turkish army said in a statement.

Turkish soldiers killed in clash with Kurdish rebels: sources
12h54 - DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) - Four Turkish soldiers were killed in fighting with Kurdish rebels Tuesday in the country's restive southeast close to the Iraqi border, security sources here said.

Turkish warplanes bomb Iraqi villages
12h01 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish warplanes bombed three Iraqi villages near the border town of Zakho in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region on Tuesday but caused no casualties, a security official said.

Turkish warplanes pound rebel post in Iraq: reports
11h44 - ANKARA, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish warplanes on Tuesday pounded a suspected Kurdish rebel position a few kilometres (miles) inside Iraqi territory, TV news channels here reported.

Military news blackout on captured Turkish soldiers' trial
10h22 - ANKARA, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) - The Turkish military has clamped a news blackout on the upcoming court martial of eight soldiers held captive for two weeks by Kurdish rebels following an ambush last month near the Iraqi border.

Kurdish rebels kidnap seven people in Turkey: reports
15h19 - ANKARA, Nov 12, 2007 (AFP) - Separatist Kurdish rebels kidnapped seven people, two of them pro-government "village guard" militiamen, in eastern Turkey near the Iranian border, media reports said Monday.

PKK rebels have crossed into Iran: ex-leader
08h58 - KOYA, Iraq, Nov 11, 2007 (AFP) - Thousands of Kurdish guerrillas have crossed the border into Iran to escape a threatened Turkish offensive against their mountain redoubts in northern Iraq, a former rebel leader said.

Turks in Germany protest against Kurdish rebels
20h16 - BERLIN, Nov 10, 2007 (AFP) - Thousands of Turks protested in two German cities Saturday against the the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), whose activites have heightened tensions between Ankara and Baghdad.

Turk cities will pay if PKK leader dies in jail: brother
17h47 - KOYA, Iraq, Nov 10, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey is denying urgent medical treatment to jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, his brother charged on Saturday warning that suicide bombers would strike Turkish cities if he dies in prison.

Turkish general says 'never too late' to attack Kurdish rebels
11h21 - ANKARA, Nov 10, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's army chief has said it was "never too late" to launch broad operations against Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq, a newspaper reported Saturday.

Iraq's Kurdish capital always on its toes
05h19 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 10, 2007 (AFP) - Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern Kurdish region, has been spared the kinds of attacks that have bloodied the rest of the country thanks to a deep ditch, vigilant police and nosy citizens.

Iran court upholds death sentence for Kurd newsman
13h53 - TEHRAN, Nov 9, 2007 (AFP) - Iran's supreme court has upheld a death sentence against one Kurdish journalist on espionage charges but overturned that against another, defence counsel said on Friday.

Kurdish MP admits husband with PKK, slams media assault
11h48 - ANKARA, Nov 9, 2007 (AFP) - A Kurdish member of Turkey's parliament acknowledged Friday that her husband is a militant of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the armed separatist group fighting the Ankara government.

First rule for PKK rebels: make war, not love
05h06 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 9, 2007 (AFP) - Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerrillas Abdullah and Zeena broke the cardinal rule of the rebel outfit -- they fell in love.

Turkey's Kurdish party warned to cut links with rebels
18h54 - ANKARA, Nov 8, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's main Kurdish party urged a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict Thursday as Ankara warned of legal sanctions if the party fails to sever its alleged links with separatist rebels.

In Turkish mountains, an oasis of inter-ethnic harmony
11h25 - MARDIN, Turkey, Nov 7, 2007 (AFP) - Clinging to a craggy mountaintop in southeast Turkey, Mardin is at the geographic heart of a region in the throes of violent conflict between the Turkish army and separatist Kurdish rebels.

PKK fears imminent air strike on Iraqi bases: report
10h21 - ANKARA, Nov 8, 2007 (AFP) - The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fears an imminent Turkish air strike on its bases in northern Iraq following US pledges to help Turkey combat the separatist group, a pro-PKK news agency reported Thursday.

Iraq Kurd veterans predict Turkish defeat against PKK
09h18 - RANIYA, Iraq, Nov 8, 2007 (AFP) - Veterans of the Iraqi Kurds' long war against Saddam Hussein's regime on Thursday predicted defeat for the Turkish army if it attacks Kurdish rebels hiding in the rugged Qandil mountains bordering Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

Three Kurdish rebels killed in Iran
07h58 - TEHRAN, Nov 8, 2007 (AFP) - Iranian security forces have killed three Kurdish rebels in the western province of Kordestan, the government daily Iran said on Thursday.

Turkish PM vows to step up reforms demanded by EU
20h30 - ROME, Nov 7, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday his country would relaunch its reform program as demanded by the European Union in assessing Ankara's progress toward possible membership.

Iraqi Kurd urges PKK to declare ceasefire
13h56 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 7, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's Kurdish region's prime minister Nechirvan Barzani Wednesday urged Kurdish rebels to declare a ceasefire "and think of another solution" to achieving their goal of a Kurdish state.

Defiant Iraqi Kurds sign seven new oil contracts
09h14 - BAGHDAD, Nov 7, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's Kurdish region has defiantly signed seven new foreign oil deals in a move sure to anger Baghdad, which opposes the unilateral sell-off of crude blocks in the absence of a national oil law.

Soldier killed in rebel attack in Turkey
22h23 - ANKARA, Nov 6, 2007 (AFP) - A Turkish soldier was killed Tuesday when separatist Kurdish rebels opened fire on a military outpost in the country's east, the Anatolia news agency reported.

EU urges Turkey to avoid disproportionate force against Kurd rebels
13h17 - BRUSSELS, Nov 6, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey must avoid "any disproportionate action" in dealing with attacks by Kurdish rebels in Iraq, the European Commission urged Tuesday.

Kurdish rebels renew call for dialogue with Turkey
13h05 - ANKARA, Nov 6, 2007 (AFP) - A Kurdish rebel leader on Tuesday urged Turkey to negotiate with his Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), while Ankara stressed that military action against PKK bases in northern Iraq remained on the table.

Turkey retains military option after US pledges support against PKK
12h39 - ANKARA, Nov 6, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey stressed Tuesday that it retained the option of military action against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, a day after the United States promised to help its NATO ally combat the separatists.

Turkey retains military option against rebels
11h08 - ANKARA, Nov 6, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey made it clear Tuesday that it retained the option of military action Kurdish rebels in Iraq, a day after talks between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President George W. Bush.

Turkey reassured on US support against rebels in Iraq
10h50 - ANKARA, Nov 6, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left Washington reassured Tuesday after President George W. Bush called Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq a common enemy and promised greater help against them.

Bush steps up US aid to Turkey against Kurdish rebels
01h59 - WASHINGTON, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush, vying to avert a Turkish incursion into Iraq, pledged Monday to step up US military and intelligence cooperation to aid Turkey's fight against Kurdish rebels.

Bush vows campaign with Turkey against Kurdish rebels
21h25 - WASHINGTON, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush, vying to avert a Turkish incursion into Iraq, Monday pledged to step up US military and intelligence cooperation to aid Turkey's fight against Kurdish rebels.

US, Turkey, step up work against Kurdish fighters
20h30 - WASHINGTON, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush and visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday announced a new effort to bolster military cooperation as Turkey battles Iraq-based Kurdish fighters.

Kurds protest in Washington during Turkish premier's visit
19h12 - WASHINGTON, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - Hundreds of ethnic Kurds called Monday on US President George W. Bush to press visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to launch military operations in northern Iraq to track down Kurdish rebels.

Turkish truckers plead against sanctions on Iraq Kurds
17h15 - IBRAHIM AL-KHALIL, Iraq, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish truck drivers, resting up after a long drive to ferry vast quantities of goods to northern Iraq, begged Ankara on Monday not to impose economic sanctions, saying it would hurt them more than the Kurds.

Turkey accuses Kurdish party of rebel links
16h28 - ANKARA, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey on Monday accused the country's main Kurdish party of having links with separatist rebels after its lawmakers took part in the release of eight Turkish soldiers held captive in northern Iraq.

Baghdad says doing its best to 'eliminate' PKK
16h06 - BAGHDAD, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - Baghdad said on Monday it was doing its best to "eliminate" the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels accused of launching cross-border attacks on the Turkish military from inside northern Iraq.

Bush faces crisis talks with angry Turkish leader
16h01 - WASHINGTON, Nov 5, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush was set Monday to urge Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan against going after Kurdish rebels in Iraq, fearing a fallout on a volatile mix of US interests.