Iraq Kurds condemn Turkey threat

[frigidmagi]

BBC

Kurds in Iraq have protested against the Turkish parliament's decision to allow military action against Kurdish rebels across the border.

Thousands of protesters marched in the northern Iraqi cities of Irbil and Dahuk to express opposition to any attack by Turkish forces.

The Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq called on Turkey to avoid confrontation and called for talks.

An Iraqi delegation has been dispatched to Turkey to discuss the issue.

The recent deaths of 13 Turkish soldiers in an ambush blamed on PKK separatists has put the Ankara government under renewed pressure to respond with force.

Call for dialogue

But in Irbil, thousands of people carried banners denouncing possible cross-border raids by Turkey.

Some of the banners read: "We will resist the Turkish" and "We are in the world of dialogue, not war".

PKK rebels in northern Iraq
PKK fighters have launched attacks on Turkish territory from Iraq

In Dahuk, about 1,500 protesters also held a rally. "We want Turkey to realise that we want to live in peace," one student told Reuters news agency.

The Kurdish regional government urged Turkey not to launch any attack on PKK rebels.

"We do not want any confrontation with Turkey." it said in a statement.

It added: "We will not allow our land to be used as a base to launch attacks against our neighbour."

Turkey's parliament voted on Wednesday to allow military action across the border, in response to attacks on Turkish armed forces and civilians.

The United States, Nato and the European Union have joined Iraq in urging Turkey to exercise restraint.