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Turkish troops 'killed by rebels' | Turkish troops 'killed by rebels' |
(30 minutes later) | |
At least 15 Turkish soldiers have been killed in clashes with Kurdish rebels near the border with Iraq. | |
The soldiers were killed in an ambush blamed on guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. | |
The attack comes days after Turkey's parliament authorised the military to launch cross-border incursions into Iraq to hunt rebels based in the area. | |
The vote followed a series of attacks blamed on the PKK in which almost 30 soldiers and civilians were killed. | The vote followed a series of attacks blamed on the PKK in which almost 30 soldiers and civilians were killed. |
The attack took place in south-eastern Hakkari province near the town of Yuksekova, state news agency Anatolia said. | The attack took place in south-eastern Hakkari province near the town of Yuksekova, state news agency Anatolia said. |
The rebels ambushed a military unit with heavy weapons, also wounding a number of soldiers, Turkish media reported. | |
Mr Erdogan announced on Turkish television that the country's security officials would hold an emergency meeting later on Sunday to consider their response. | |
Kurdish officials in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region said Turkish artillery had fired across the border but there had been no casualties. | |
Increased pressure | |
About 3,000 PKK fighters are believed to be based in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul. | About 3,000 PKK fighters are believed to be based in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul. |
The attack will increase pressure on the government from the public and the military to do something about Kurdish rebels based in Iraq, our correspondent says. | The attack will increase pressure on the government from the public and the military to do something about Kurdish rebels based in Iraq, our correspondent says. |
PKK guerrillas are based in rugged mountainous terrain in IraqOn Wednesday, parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion to allow the military to launch offensives into Iraq to pursue Kurdish rebels. | |
The United States, Turkey's Nato ally, has led international calls for restraint. | |
The US and Iraq fear any incursions would destabilise Iraq's most peaceful area - the autonomous Kurdish region in the north. | The US and Iraq fear any incursions would destabilise Iraq's most peaceful area - the autonomous Kurdish region in the north. |
Turkey has been urging the US and Iraq to do something about the PKK rebels based in the remote, mountainous area along the border with Turkey. | Turkey has been urging the US and Iraq to do something about the PKK rebels based in the remote, mountainous area along the border with Turkey. |
The parliamentary vote is a sign that Turkey is serious about wanting its allies and neighbours to help tackle the PKK, says our correspondent. | The parliamentary vote is a sign that Turkey is serious about wanting its allies and neighbours to help tackle the PKK, says our correspondent. |
Washington lists the PKK as a terrorist organisation but has said Turkey should work with Iraq to solve the problem. | Washington lists the PKK as a terrorist organisation but has said Turkey should work with Iraq to solve the problem. |
THE PKK Formed in late 1970sLaunched armed struggle in 1984Dropped independence demands in 1990sWants greater autonomy for Turkey's KurdsLeader Abdullah Ocalan arrested in 1999Ended five-year ceasefire in 2004 Profile: The PKK Turkey's tense border | THE PKK Formed in late 1970sLaunched armed struggle in 1984Dropped independence demands in 1990sWants greater autonomy for Turkey's KurdsLeader Abdullah Ocalan arrested in 1999Ended five-year ceasefire in 2004 Profile: The PKK Turkey's tense border |
Iraqi leaders have said they are determined to end the PKK's activities in Iraq but have urged Turkey not to make an incursion. | Iraqi leaders have said they are determined to end the PKK's activities in Iraq but have urged Turkey not to make an incursion. |
The autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq warned Turkish MPs that any intervention would be "illegal" and has denied providing the PKK with any help. | The autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq warned Turkish MPs that any intervention would be "illegal" and has denied providing the PKK with any help. |
The rebels themselves said they would fight any Turkish forces which cross the border. | The rebels themselves said they would fight any Turkish forces which cross the border. |
More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for greater autonomy for the largely-Kurdish south-eastern Turkey since 1984. | More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for greater autonomy for the largely-Kurdish south-eastern Turkey since 1984. |
Demands for a separate Kurdish state were dropped in the 1990s. | Demands for a separate Kurdish state were dropped in the 1990s. |