Turkey to press on with strikes against Kurdish rebels: PM
19h32 - ANKARA, Dec 30, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey will relentlessly press on with cross-border raids on Kurdish rebels in neighbouring Iraq, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday.

Iraqi Sunnis honour Saddam one year after his hanging
16h18 - AWJA, Iraq, Dec 30, 2007 (AFP) - Saddam Hussein loyalists gathered at the ousted dictator's graveside on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of his execution, as former opponents expressed joy over the end of his rule.

Iraq PM offers money to families fleeing Turkish bombings
12h28 - BAGHDAD, Dec 30, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has ordered the government to pay one million dinars (830 dollars) to every Kurdish family displaced by Turkish bombings, his office said on Sunday.

Turkey ready to stage new raids against PKK in northern Iraq
20h12 - ANKARA, Dec 28, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey said Friday it would continue its military operations against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, after several attacks this month against members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkish court rules out restrictions on Kurdish party: report
12h44 - ANKARA, Dec 27, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's Constitutional Court Thursday rejected prosecution demands to slap restrictions on the main Kurdish party while it is hearing a case against it for alleged links with separatist rebels, Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkish troops hunt down Kurd rebels near Iraq border: security sources
12h14 - DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Dec 27, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish troops, backed by helicopters, launched a fresh operation Thursday against Kurdish rebels in the country's southeast near the Iraqi border, local security sources said.

Turkey praises US help as jets bomb northern Iraq
20h23 - ANKARA, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey praised the United States on Wednesday for providing intelligence in support of attacks against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, as it confirmed its third such air strike in 10 days.

Iraqi Kurdish assembly postpones key vote on oil city
17h32 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - The autonomus parliament of northern Iraq's Kurdish administration on Wednesday approved a United Nations plan to delay a public vote on the future of the oil city of Kirkuk by six months.

US concerned about escalation of Turkish attacks: White House
17h24 - WASHINGTON, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - The White House Wednesday said it had expressed concern to Ankara over the possible escalation of Turkey's attacks against Kurdish PKK rebels inside northern Iraq.

Istanbul governor blames Kurdish rebels for deadly blast: Anatolia
17h05 - ISTANBUL, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - Separatist Kurdish rebels were behind a bomb blast in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul that killed a woman and injured six other people, the Anatolia news agency quoted governor Muammer Guler as saying.

Italian police find 17 Kurds in meat-freezer truck: report
16h59 - ROME, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - Italian traffic police found 17 illegal immigrants hugging each other for dear life in a freezer truck near Rimini, press agency Ansa reported Wednesday.

Six Kurdish rebels killed in Turkey clash: army
12h51 - ANKARA, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish troops killed six Kurdish rebels in a security operation on Wednesday in the country's southeast close to the Iraqi border, the army said.

Turkish leader praises US help against Kurd rebels: Anatolia
12h27 - ANKARA, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday praised US intelligence assistance for Turkish air raids against Kurdish rebels in Iraq, saying both NATO allies were "satisfied" with the cooperation, Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkey steps up military action in Iraq with new air strike
11h27 - ANKARA, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish rebel hideouts in northern Iraq Wednesday, intensifying military action against the separatists with apparent US approval and despite Iraqi protests.

Turkish army confirms air raid on rebel targets in Iraq
09h45 - ANKARA, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish rebel targets along the Turkish border in northern Iraq Wednesday, the military here said, confirming Kurdish reports of a fresh air strike.

Turkey pre-warned US of raids on Kurd rebels: Pentagon
21h18 - WASHINGTON, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey informed the United States well in advance before launching weekend air raids into northern Iraq against Kurdish rebel bases, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Turkey takes fresh step towards EU membership
16h07 - BRUSSELS, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey took a fresh step towards EU membership Wednesday with the opening of new policy talks, despite resistance from France and other members.

Military action no answer to Turkey's Kurdish question: analysts
13h47 - ANKARA, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's military strikes against Kurdish rebel bases in Iraq must be followed by efforts to improve the living standards of minority Kurds in order to secure a permanent end to the insurgency, analysts said Wednesday.

Iraq says Turkey raid an 'attack on sovereignty'
12h10 - BAGHDAD, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq said on Wednesday it believed Turkey was unlikely to extend a military operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq but criticised Ankara for what it branded an attack on its sovereignty.

Iraq says Turkey unlikely to extend operation
07h54 - BAGHDAD, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq said on Wednesday it believed Ankara was unlikely to conduct an extended operation inside northern Iraq to flush out Kurdish rebels who are fighting for self-rule in southeastern Turkey.

Turkish army deals 'heavy blow' to Kurd rebels in Iraq
01h55 - ANKARA, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's military said it dealt a "heavy blow" to Kurdish separatist rebels based in neighbouring northern Iraq in a cross-border ground operation on Tuesday and in air raids at the weekend.

Turkish attacks on PKK in Iraq likely futile: thinktank
00h01 - LONDON, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey can probably never defeat the PKK, and cross-border attacks on its bases in Iraq are almost certainly futile, a leading think-tank said Wednesday.

Turkish forces deal 'heavy blow' to Kurd rebels in Iraq: army
22h11 - ANKARA, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - The Turkish military has confirmed it conducted a "small-scale" incursion into northern Iraq Tuesday and dealt a "heavy blow" to a group of separatist Kurdish rebels seeking to infiltrate Turkey.

Turkey army confirms 'small-scale' operation in Iraq
21h38 - ANKARA, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - The Turkish military confirmed it conducted a "small-scale" incursion into northern Iraq Tuesday and dealt a "heavy blow" to a group of Kurdish rebels seeking to infiltrate Turkey.

US tacitly backs Turkish strike in Iraq
20h54 - WASHINGTON, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday raised no public objections to a Turkish incursion that targeted Kurdish fighters based in northern Iraq and reportedly angered a key US ally there.

White House won't condemn Turkish incursion in Iraq
15h48 - WASHINGTON, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Tuesday declined to object to a reported Turkish incursion targeting Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq, citing what it called "conflicting" information about the raid.

Turkish troops withdrawing from Iraq: Kurdish presidency
15h33 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish troops who crossed into northern Iraq early on Tuesday have started withdrawing, said the office of Massud Barzani, president of Iraq's northern Kurdish government.

PKK threatens stability in northern Iraq: Rice
15h10 - BAGHDAD, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Tuesday the United States, Iraq and Turkey shared a "common interest" in stopping the activity of Kurdish rebels.

Turkey says army doing 'necessary' against Kurd rebels
14h39 - ANKARA, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's leaders said Tuesday its army was doing "what is necessary" to combat Kurdish rebels but stopped short of explicitly confirming a Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq.

Top Iraqi Kurd refuses to meet Rice
14h20 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - The president of Iraq's Kurdish region is refusing to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was in Iraq Tuesday, because of the US position over Turkey sending soldiers into northern Iraq, a top Kurdish official said.

Turkish troops enter northern Iraq: Kurdish official
09h35 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish troops entered northern Iraq early on Tuesday to flush out separatist Kurdish rebels, Jabbar Yawar, spokesman for the Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga security force, told AFP.

Iraq parliament condemns 'cruel' Turkish air strikes
20h53 - BAGHDAD, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq strongly condemned Monday Turkish air strikes on Kurdish rebel bases in its territory, branding them a "cruel attack" on Iraqi sovereignty that claimed innocent lives.

Turkish police detain Kurdish party leader: report
20h37 - ANKARA, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish police apprehended Monday evening the head of the country's main Kurdish party for using false documents to duck military service, the Anatolia press agency reported.

UN chief concerned by Turkish air strikes in Iraq
20h09 - UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon is "concerned" over the Turkish air strikes against separatist Kurdish rebels based inside northern Iraq which may have caused civilian casualties, his press office said Monday.

PKK threatens retaliation after Turkish raids: report
17h05 - ANKARA, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - The separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) threatened retaliation on Monday following Turkish air strikes on its bases in northern Iraq at the weekend.

Turkish raids on Kurds 'in keeping' with previous raids: US
16h37 - WASHINGTON, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - The US State Department said Monday that Turkish air raids on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq appeared "in keeping with" past strikes, but vowed it would oppose a large-scale, cross-border incursion.

Iraqi Kurds agree to postpone key vote on oil city
16h05 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - The Kurdish regional government in north Iraq has agreed to delay by six months the referendum on the future of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, easing immediate tensions among the mixed population.

Turkey says Iraq raids hit targets
15h33 - ANKARA, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - All Kurdish rebel positions targeted in weekend air strikes in northern Iraq were hit and there were no civilian casualties, the Turkish military said Monday.

EU concerned over Turkish air strikes in Iraq
15h25 - BRUSSELS, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union expressed concern Monday after the Turkish military launched air attacks on Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq, urging Ankara to exercise restraint.

Iraqi Kurds agree to postpone vote on oil city: official
13h42 - NAJAF, Iraq, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's regional northern Kurdish government has agreed to delay by six months the referendum to decide the future of the northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Iraqi parliament condemns 'cruel' Turkish strikes
12h15 - BAGHDAD, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's parliament on Monday strongly condemned Turkish air strikes inside northern Iraq, saying it was a "cruel attack" on Iraq's sovereignty.

Turkish air strikes draw protests in Iraq
11h47 - QANDIL, Iraq, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's bombardment of suspected PKK rebel rear-bases inside northern Iraq drew a furious response Monday from the Iraqi government and villagers hit by the air strikes.

Turkish air strikes draw protests in Irak
11h14 - QANDIL, Iraq, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey's bombardment of suspected PKK rebel rear-bases inside northern Iraq drew a furious response Monday from the Iraqi government and villagers hit by the air strikes.

PKK chief may have been target of PKK air strikes: press
10h39 - ANKARA, Dec 17, 2007 (AFP) - Kurdish PKK military chief Murat Karayilan might have been the target of the Turkish air strikes against the organisation in northeast Iraq, reports in Turkish newspapers suggested Monday.

Iraqi Kurd PM to visit Baghdad over oil deals
18h02 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 9, 2007 (AFP) - The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdish region said Sunday he will travel to Baghdad in a bid to resolve a dispute over his administration's controversial foreign oil deals.

Turkish police clash with Kurdish sympathisers
13h00 - ISTANBUL, Dec 9, 2007 (AFP) - Turkish police fired tear gas and used water cannons Sunday to break up protests in Istanbul by supporters of a Kurdish separatist group whose leader is serving a life term for treason.

Turkish PM mulling amnesty for Kurdish rebels: reports
10h16 - ANKARA, Dec 9, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey is considering amnesty for Kurdish rebels whose separatist drive has claimed more than 37,000 lives since 1984, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying Sunday.

Kurdish officer says Iraqi insurgents kill 8 guards
13h47 - SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq, Dec 6, 2007 (AFP) - Insurgents attacked a security outpost north of Baghdad on Thursday and killed at least eight Kurdish peshmerga guards, Jabbar Yawar, head of peshmerga forces, told AFP.

Eight Kurdish rebels killed in Turkish military operation: army
21h22 - ANKARA, Dec 5, 2007 (AFP) - Eight Kurdish militants were killed in a military offensive against a rebel hideout in southeast Turkey near the Iraqi border Wednesday, the Turkish army said.

Iraq Shiites turn on Kurdish allies over oil spat
08h56 - BAGHDAD, Dec 5, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's Shiites have turned on their Kurdish allies over the stormy issue of oil contracts with foreign companies, joining a furious Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani in declaring them invalid.

Six Kurdish rebels, soldier killed in Turkey clash: army
15h43 - ANKARA, Dec 4, 2007 (AFP) - Six Kurdish rebels and a soldier were killed Tuesday in fighting in southeastern Turkey near the Iraqi border, the Turkish military said.

Kurdish rebel leader's former lawyers risk jail in Turkey: report
11h46 - ISTANBUL, Dec 4, 2007 (AFP) - Two former lawyers for jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan face up to 15 years in prison on charges of belonging to the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a report said Tuesday.

Arabs and Kurds reach accord in Iraq's Kirkuk
14h28 - KIRKUK, Dec 3, 2007 (AFP) - Arab and Kurdish parties in Iraq's oil city of Kirkuk have clinched a deal under which Arabs will end their boycott of the provincial council in return for a more equal sharing of power, an official said on Monday.

Kurd rebel commander acknowledges Turkish strike
15h51 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 2, 2007 (AFP) - A leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) acknowledged on Sunday that rebel fighters had come under attack by Turkish helicopters inside Iraq but insisted they had suffered no casualties.

PKK leader acknowledges Turkey strike
12h07 - BAGHDAD, Dec 2, 2007 (AFP) - A leader of the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party on Sunday acknowledged the Turkish military's attack on the group's bases inside Iraq after initially denying it, but said there had been no casualties.

US withholds comment on reported Turkish attack inside Iraq
20h08 - WASHINGTON, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - The White House withheld comment Saturday on reports that Turkey had undertaken military operations against the armed Kurdish separatist movement PKK in northern Iraq.

Turkey attacks PKK rebels in northern Iraq: army
18h40 - ANKARA, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - Turkey made good on its threat to strike Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq Saturday, saying it inflicted "heavy losses" on the armed separatist movement PKK with cross-border airstrikes and artillery.

Key events in the Turkey-Iraq crisis over the PKK
18h07 - ANKARA, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - Here are the key developments since Turkey threatened military action against the bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

US military says no reports of Turkish operations in Iraq
17h34 - BAGHDAD, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - The US military in Baghdad said on Saturday it had no reports of Turkish military operations in northern Iraq.

PKK denies attack by Turkish troops in northern Iraq
17h06 - ARBIL, Iraq, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - A senior leader of the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Saturday denied claims by the Turkish army that it had attacked the guerrillas in northern Iraq with air strikes and artillery.

The PKK: two decades of struggle against Turkey
16h20 - ANKARA, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - The Kurdistan Workers' Party, whose guerrillas the Turkish army said Saturday it attacked in northern Iraq with airstrikes and artillery, has been waging an armed nationalist campaign for 23 years.

Four hurt by blast in Iran province: report
14h29 - TEHRAN, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - Four people were hurt when a percussion grenade exploded on Saturday in the city of Sanandaj, capital of Iran's restive western Kordestan province, the Fars news agency reported.

Turkish army attacks PKK rebels in northern Iraq: army
14h08 - ANKARA, Dec 1, 2007 (AFP) - The Turkish army said it inflicted "heavy losses" on a group of around 50 members of the Kurdish separatist movement PKK in northern Iraq on Saturday.