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.

Wednesday, 27 February, 2008 , 15:29 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."

Tuesday, 26 February, 2008 , 15:41 AFP — Two Turkish soldiers were killed Tuesday in clashes with Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, the military said, as heavy snowfall hampered the fifth day of its major cross-border offensive.

Tuesday, 26 February, 2008 , 13:22 AFP — Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended Tuesday the military offensive against Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq as a "rightful struggle", defying Iraqi and US calls for a swift pull-out.