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 8 Version 9
Dozens die in Turkey border clash Dozens die in Turkey border clash
(about 1 hour later)
Fighting between Turkish soldiers and Kurdish rebels near the border with Iraq has left 12 soldiers and 23 rebels dead, said Turkish military officials. At least 12 Turkish soldiers have been killed following an ambush by Kurdish rebels near the Iraqi border - with 23 rebels also killed, officials say.
The army sent reinforcements, including helicopters, to the area after soldiers were ambushed early on Sunday morning. The PKK guerrilla group said it had also taken "several" soldiers hostage.
The clashes come days after Turkey's parliament authorised the army to cross the border into Iraq to pursue rebels. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recalled security officials to Ankara for a crisis meeting.
The vote followed attacks blamed on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which killed nearly 30 troops and civilians. Correspondents say the attacks will increase the pressure on the government to launch raids into Iraq, after it was given clearance to do so by parliament.
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. On Wednesday, MPs voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion to allow the military to launch offensives across the border, against rebels based in the remote, mountainous north of Iraq.
It followed an escalation of raids by the PKK - the Kurdistan Workers' Party - as part of its armed campaign for Kurdish autonomy.
Recent attacks blamed on the group have left more than 30 Turkish soldiers and civilians dead.
Call for unityCall 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. In the latest attack shortly after midnight, a large group of PKK rebels crossed the border from Iraq and launched their attack near the village of Daglica in Hakkari province, the Turkish military said.
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. The Turkish military said it sent reinforcements and helicopters to the area, and launched retaliatory attacks in which 23 guerrillas were killed.
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. PKK sources confirmed the fighting, and claimed more troops were killed than the official figure of 12.
He called for "unity and solidarity" and said he was "resolved to deal with these matters in a cool-headed manner". "There were clashes with the Turkish troops late last night in which we have killed at least 16 soldiers and wounded 20. We also captured several," Reuters quoted an unnamed rebel source as saying.
Not far from the scene of the fighting, in south-eastern Hakkari province, a minibus was later caught in a landmine explosion, also blamed on the PKK, that injured 10 civilians, the state news agency Anatolia said.
The prime minister said: "We are very angry."
But he 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 pressureIncreased pressure
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 was one of the deadliest for 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.
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 commentsTHE 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 clashes will increase pressure on the government from the public and the military for a tough response, our correspondent says.
The United States, Turkey's Nato ally, has called for restraint, urging Turkey to work with Iraq to solve the problem.
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. Iraqi leaders say they are determined to remove the PKK, but have pleaded for more time.
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.
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.