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Iraqi PM vows to stop PKK rebels Iraq 'will arrest Kurdish rebels'
(about 4 hours later)
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has pledged to stop Kurdish rebels using his country as a base for attacks against neighbouring Turkey. Iraq says it is ready to track down and arrest Kurdish rebel leaders responsible for cross-border raids into Turkey from northern Iraq.
His vow came as international talks on promoting security in Iraq opened in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Government spokesman Ali Dabbagh also said Baghdad was prepared to take joint action with Ankara against the fighters of the PKK.
Foreign ministers of all six of Iraq's neighbours are gathering along with top diplomats from the UN, the G8 and international Arab and Islamic groups. The pledge was made at international talks in Turkey on security in Iraq.
Tensions on Turkey's border with Iraq could overshadow the meeting. Iraq's six neighbours are gathering with diplomats from the UN, G8 and international Arab and Islamic groups.
"Iraq should not be a base for attacks against neighbours," Mr Maliki was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. Attending the talks in Istanbul, Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki said his country should not be used a base for attacks against neighbours.
"We will co-operate with our neighbours in defeating this threat." "We will co-operate with our neighbours in defeating this threat," he said.
Suspicion 'Clearly unacceptable'
Ali Dabbagh was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying: "There are security measures being taken, the checking of any suspect officer of the PKK in the Kurdistan region and in all Iraq."
"They will be arrested," he added.
Meanwhile, authorities in Iraq closed an office in Irbil on Saturday of the Kurdistan Democratic Solution, a political party which Turkey says is a front for the Kurdish rebels.
The party secretary, Fayaq Gulpi, said: "The security forces in Irbil entered our office, expelled all our party members and our sympathisers then closed the office."
Irbil is the seat of government for Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and lies 350km (217 miles) north of Baghdad.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said at the talks in Istanbul that attacks launched on Turkish forces from Iraq were "clearly unacceptable".
"The governments of Iraq and Turkey must work hard to address this challenge and I am confident that a mutually acceptable solution can be found," he said.
Turkey has massed up to 100,000 troops on its southern border for a possible offensive to eliminate Kurdish rebel bases in Iraq.Turkey has massed up to 100,000 troops on its southern border for a possible offensive to eliminate Kurdish rebel bases in Iraq.
Threats
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the meeting: "Our objective is to have an Iraq that has stability and safety and that does not create threats for its neighbours."
BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the Iraqi authorities are anxious that Saturday's one-day conference remains focused on broader questions of security and stability in Iraq, and how the outside world can help.BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the Iraqi authorities are anxious that Saturday's one-day conference remains focused on broader questions of security and stability in Iraq, and how the outside world can help.
They hope hints of a recent downturn of violence in Iraq may encourage greater outside engagement, says our correspondent.They hope hints of a recent downturn of violence in Iraq may encourage greater outside engagement, says our correspondent.
The first round of talks was held in Egypt in May, when an agreement in principle was reached to forgive Iraq some $30bn (£14.4bn) in debts.The first round of talks was held in Egypt in May, when an agreement in principle was reached to forgive Iraq some $30bn (£14.4bn) in debts.
Turkey wants Washington to do more to deter PKK activity from Iraq
The trouble is many of the participants in Istanbul have different views of how they want to see Iraq develop politically, says our correspondent.The trouble is many of the participants in Istanbul have different views of how they want to see Iraq develop politically, says our correspondent.
Turkey wants Washington to do more to deter PKK activity from Iraq
The Saudis and the Iranians, for example, regard each other suspiciously but they find common ground in not wanting to see Iraq unstable and broken up.The Saudis and the Iranians, for example, regard each other suspiciously but they find common ground in not wanting to see Iraq unstable and broken up.
A lot of interest will again be focused on the chemistry between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts from two significant regional players with which Washington is at odds, Iran and Syria.A lot of interest will again be focused on the chemistry between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts from two significant regional players with which Washington is at odds, Iran and Syria.
Those attending the conference include representatives of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League and the Islamic Conference Organisation.Those attending the conference include representatives of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League and the Islamic Conference Organisation.
Turkey is pressing Washington to do more to stem PKK activity from Iraq. Turkey is pressing Washington to do more to stem PKK activity from Iraq, where the organisation is thought to have about 3,000 rebels based.
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan had talks in Ankara on Friday evening with Condoleezza Rice after which she said the PKK were a "common enemy". Foreign Minister Ali Babacan met Condoleezza Rice in Ankara on Friday and the pair are due to hold more talks on Saturday, with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari also attending.
He and Ms Rice are due to have more talks on Saturday, on the sidelines of the conference, with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari also attending.
But analysts expect that any major announcement about the border situation will be kept for a summit between President George W Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan being held in Washington on Monday.But analysts expect that any major announcement about the border situation will be kept for a summit between President George W Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan being held in Washington on Monday.