Turkey gives green light for action against Kurdish rebels in Iraq

TURKISH Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gave the green light yesterday for a possible military incursion into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels hiding there after several deadly attacks on Turkish security forces.

Mr Erdogan is under pressure from Turkey’s powerful armed forces and opposition parties to take tough action against rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) after they shot dead 13 soldiers on Sunday near the Iraqi border.

Iraq’s government said a recent security accord with Turkey was the best way for dealing with PKK attacks. The White House said it was committed to working with both Nato ally Turkey and Iraq to combat the PKK.