Turkish jets hit Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq and the government said strikes would continue until the rebels lay down their arms, despite calls earlier by the pro-Kurdish opposition for an immediate end to the violence and the resumption of peace efforts.

TURKEY’S military said its fighter jets attacked Kurdish separatist targets in northern Iraq yesterday and killed a number of guerrillas.

TURKISH jet fighters bombed Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq early yesterday, Turkey’s military said, marking an escalation of force against the outlawed separatist group. An Iraqi official said the planes attacked several villages, killing one woman.

Turkish officials have signalled that they are prepared to send their army into northern Iraq if US and Iraqi forces do not take steps to combat Turkish Kurdish guerrillas there.