Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 14:02 AFP — Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq are not a strong military force, but a Turkish military strike on their bases could draw in thousands sympathetic to their cause, analysts said Monday.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 13:49 AFP — Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said in Kuwait on Monday that Ankara will exhaust diplomatic efforts to resolve the problem of Kurdish rebels before sending troops into northern Iraq.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 13:31 AFP — Iraqi Kurds on Monday expressed fear of acute economic woes in their relatively calm region of war-ravaged Iraq if Ankara launches a cross-border incursion against Turkish Kurdish rebels.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 13:31 AFP — Iraq refused Monday to send troops in pursuit of Kurdish rebels on its northern border but vowed to cut supplies to the fighters in an attempt to ward off the threat of a Turkish incursion.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 13:29 AFP — The "terrorist" threat to Turkey is internal and does not warrant any military intervention from its NATO allies, a senior official at the alliance said Monday.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 13:25 AFP — Jordan said on Monday it was "deeply concerned" following the deadly clashes between the Turkish army and Kurdish separatists in near the border with Iraq, and appealed for restraint.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 13:05 AFP — Turkey confirmed Monday that eight soldiers were missing after clashes with Kurdish separatists, ramping up public pressure on the government to strike rebel bases in northern Iraq despite US opposition.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 12:33 AFP — Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will visit Baghdad on Tuesday for talks with Iraqi leaders about the crisis over Kurdish rebels, an advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 11:47 AFP — The Turkish army confirmed Monday that eight soldiers were missing after bloody clashes Sunday with Kurdish rebels near the Iraqi border.

Monday, 22 October, 2007 , 10:09 AFP — Iraqi ministers addressed parliament in a crisis session on Monday as pressure mounted on the government to rein in Kurdish rebels or face the increasingly likely prospect of a Turkish incursion.