Kurdish rebel chief sues Greece over Turkish capture
16h54 - ATHENS, Dec 4, 2008 (AFP) - Jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan is seeking compensation from Greece for having failed to prevent his capture by Turkish intelligence nearly a decade ago, a justice source said on Thursday.

Kurdish former lawmaker jailed over rebel links
13h18 - DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Dec 4, 2008 (AFP) - A Turkish court here Thursday jailed Kurdish rights activist and former lawmaker Leyla Zana for 10 years for being a member of a separatist Kurdish rebel group and diffusing its propaganda.

Hangman's rope ties Kurds to tragic past
15h33 - SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq, Dec 3, 2008 (AFP) - A gallows rope that once hung in Saddam Hussein's most notorious prison is part of a new exhibition that opened on Wednesday aimed at teaching young Iraqi Kurds about their tragic history.

Iraqi PM refuses to suspend tribal councils
10h32 - BAGHDAD, Dec 3, 2008 (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday refused a request from the presidential council to suspend tribal councils that have sparked a bitter debate among the country's top leaders.

Bombs kill 30 people in two Iraqi cities
19h18 - BAGHDAD, Dec 1, 2008 (AFP) - A spate of attacks targeting security forces in the heart of Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul killed around 30 people on Monday -- the bloodiest day in Iraq in three weeks.

Turkey strikes Kurdish rebel targets in Iraq: army
19h06 - ANKARA, Dec 1, 2008 (AFP) - Turkish warplanes on Monday bombed Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, the general staff said.

Iraqi Kurds slam UN envoy over disputed areas
15h46 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 30, 2008 (AFP) - Iraq's Kurds lashed out at the country's UN envoy on Sunday, accusing him of delaying a report on disputed areas and favouring the "Arabisation" policies of executed dictator Saddam Hussein.

Two Turkish policemen killed in Kurdish rebel attack: report
14h48 - ANKARA, Nov 27, 2008 (AFP) - Suspected Kurdish rebels opened fire at a traffic control point in southern Turkey on Thursday, killing two policemen and wounding four others, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Iraq says Kurdish oil should pass through national pipelines
14h16 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 24, 2008 (AFP) - Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said on Monday that Baghdad was keen to develop oil wells in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq but insisted exports pass through the national pipelines.

Kurdish rebels claim responsibility for pipeline blast: report
14h54 - ANKARA, Nov 22, 2008 (AFP) - Separatist Kurdish rebels on Saturday claimed responsibility for an explosion at an oil pipeline linking Iraq with southern Turkey, an agency close to the rebels reported.

Landmine explosion kills teenager in Turkey: report
13h21 - ANKARA, Nov 22, 2008 (AFP) - A 16-year-old shepherd was killed and two teenagers were wounded Saturday in a landmine blast in the Kurdish-populated east of Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Iraq's Kurdish areas prepare to ban female circumcision
10h08 - ARBIL, Iraq, Nov 23, 2008 (AFP) - Parliament in Iraq's northern autonomous region of Kurdistan is preparing to outlaw female circumcision, according to a woman MP and doctor who has long battled to halt the widespread practice.

Iraq's presidency demands suspension of pro-Maliki groups
19h26 - BAGHDAD, Nov 21, 2008 (AFP) - Iraq's presidential council demanded on Friday that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki suspend pro-government tribal councils so their legality could be reviewed amid an escalating quarrel over them.

Kurdish teenager jailed for rioting: Turkey
15h46 - DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Nov 21, 2008 (AFP) - A 16-year-old Kurdish youth was jailed for seven years and five months Friday for involvement in violent protests in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast last June.

Turkey could end isolation of Kurdish rebel chief: minister
14h57 - ANKARA, Nov 21, 2008 (AFP) - Turkey is considering ending the solitary confinement of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, which has sparked protests from human rights groups and anxiety about his mental health, a minister said Friday.