This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7055004.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Turkish troops killed by rebels | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least 15 Turkish soldiers have been killed in clashes with Kurdish rebels near the border with Iraq. | 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 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 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. |
| Elsewhere in south-east Turkey, an explosion hit a minibus injuring 10 people, Turkish television reported. | |
| Increased pressure | |
| The ambush on the soldiers took place in south-eastern Hakkari province near the town of Yuksekova, state news agency Anatolia said. | |
| The rebels attacked 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. | 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. | Kurdish officials in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region said Turkish artillery had fired across the border but there had been no casualties. |
| 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. |
| On 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 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 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 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. |
| 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. |