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| Dozens die in Turkey border clash | Dozens die in Turkey border clash |
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| Fighting between Turkish soldiers and Kurdish rebels near the border with Iraq has left 12 soldiers and 23 rebels dead, said Turkish military officials. | Fighting between Turkish soldiers and Kurdish rebels near the border with Iraq has left 12 soldiers and 23 rebels dead, said Turkish military officials. |
| The army sent reinforcements, including helicopters, to the area after soldiers were ambushed early on Sunday morning. | |
| The clashes come days after Turkey's parliament authorised the army to cross the border into Iraq to pursue rebels. | The clashes come days after Turkey's parliament authorised the army to cross the border into Iraq to pursue rebels. |
| The vote followed attacks blamed on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which killed nearly 30 troops and civilians. | The vote followed attacks blamed on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which killed nearly 30 troops and civilians. |
| Not far from the scene of the fighting, in south-eastern Hakkari province, an explosion from a landmine hit a minibus injuring 10 people, the state news agency Anatolia said. | Not far from the scene of the fighting, in south-eastern Hakkari province, an explosion from a landmine hit a minibus injuring 10 people, the state news agency Anatolia said. |
| Call for unity | Call for unity |
| A statement from the Turkish military said a large group of PKK rebels had crossed the border from Iraq and launched their attack shortly after midnight. | A statement from the Turkish military said a large group of PKK rebels had crossed the border from Iraq and launched their attack shortly after midnight. |
| The rebels attacked with heavy weapons, also wounding a number of soldiers, Turkish media reported. | The rebels attacked with heavy weapons, also wounding a number of soldiers, Turkish media reported. |
| A pro-rebel website said that some Turkish soldiers had been taken hostage. | A pro-rebel website said that some Turkish soldiers had been taken hostage. |
| Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Turkish television that the country's security officials would hold an emergency meeting later on Sunday to consider their response. | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Turkish television that the country's security officials would hold an emergency meeting later on Sunday to consider their response. |
| He called for "unity and solidarity" and said he was "resolved to deal with these matters in a cool-headed manner". | He called for "unity and solidarity" and said he was "resolved to deal with these matters in a cool-headed manner". |
| He urged the media to show restraint in its reporting of the situation. | He urged the media to show restraint in its reporting of the situation. |
| Increased pressure | Increased pressure |
| 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. |
| There have been regular clashes in the area since earlier in the year, but the latest attack has caused some of the biggest military losses in some time. | There have been regular clashes in the area since earlier in the year, but the latest attack has caused some of the biggest military losses in some time. |
| The clashes 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 clashes 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. | On Wednesday, parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion to allow the military to launch offensives into Iraq to pursue Kurdish rebels. |
| 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 Send us your comments | 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 Send us your comments |
| 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 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. |