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 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Dozens die in Turkey border clash | Dozens die in Turkey border clash |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 PKK guerrilla group said it had also taken "several" soldiers hostage. | The PKK guerrilla group said it had also taken "several" soldiers hostage. |
| Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recalled security officials to Ankara for a crisis meeting. | Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recalled security officials to Ankara for a crisis meeting. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | Recent attacks blamed on the group have left more than 30 Turkish soldiers and civilians dead. |
| Call for unity | Call for unity |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Turkish military said it sent reinforcements and helicopters to the area, and launched retaliatory attacks in which 23 guerrillas were killed. | The Turkish military said it sent reinforcements and helicopters to the area, and launched retaliatory attacks in which 23 guerrillas were killed. |
| PKK sources confirmed the fighting, and claimed more troops were killed than the official figure of 12. | PKK sources confirmed the fighting, and claimed more troops were killed than the official figure of 12. |
| "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. | "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. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Turkey must have the right to defend itself against any attack Ertan Orucu, Aydin, Turkey Send us your comments Turkey's tense border | |
| 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. | 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." | The prime minister said: "We are very angry." |
| But he said he was "resolved to deal with these matters in a cool-headed manner". | 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 pressure | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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 | |
| The clashes will increase pressure on the government from the public and the military for a tough response, our correspondent says. | 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 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. |
| Iraqi leaders say they are determined to remove the PKK, but have pleaded for more time. | Iraqi leaders say they are determined to remove the PKK, but have pleaded for more time. |
| 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. |