Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 17:01 AFP — Turkey insisted Thursday that its offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq will continue "as long as necessary," while US President George Bush mounted pressure on Ankara to wrap up its incursion quickly.

Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 16:35 AFP — Syrian police have detained a human rights activist in the mainly Kurdish northeastern city of Hasakah, rights watchdogs said on Thursday.

Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 15:51 AFP — US President George W. Bush said Turkey's incursion into Kurdish northern Iraq should be limited and temporary, and urged the Turks to wrap up the operation "as quickly as possible."

Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 15:37 AFP — Turkey said Thursday its offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq will continue "as long as necessary," rejecting US pressure for a speedy end to the week-old military incursion.

Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 13:55 AFP — US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that Turkish officials had got the message to wrap up their incursion in northern Iraq quickly, even though they refused to give a pullout timetable.

Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 10:09 AFP — Turkish army chief Yasar Buyukanit on Thursday refused to pledge a quick pullout from northern Iraq after talks here with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, the NTV news channel reported.

Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 08:09 AFP — The Turkish army will remain in northern Iraq "as long as necessary," Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul said Thursday, refusing to give a timetable for a troop withdrawal.

Thursday, 28 February, 2008 , 01:27 AFP — US Defense Secretary Robert Gates was expected to press Turkish leaders on Thursday to quickly wrap up their offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, but Ankara was resisting setting a deadline.

Wednesday, 27 February, 2008 , 20:33 AFP — Turkey stepped up its offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Wednesday and refused to set a pull-out timetable, despite a US warning that the incursion should last no more than "a week or two."

Wednesday, 27 February, 2008 , 18:43 AFP — US Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived here Wednesday to press Turkish leaders to quickly end a six-day-old military incursion in northern Iraq even as Turkish leaders refused to set a timetable.