Tension grows as Turks build up border forces

HOPES of a peaceful end to the showdown between Turkish troops and Kurdish rebels seemed remote yesterday, despite the offer of a ceasefire.

Iraq announced the PKK dissidents who have camps in the north of the country had unilaterally declared an end to the violence.

The announcement came a day after they killed 12 Turkish soldiers and abducted another eight in an ambush on the Turkey-Iran border. But Turkey has already rejected several previous similar ceasefires declared by the rebels, saying it would continue fighting until all surrendered or were killed. Meanwhile dozens of Turkish military vehicles and heavy weapons rumbled toward the Iraqi border yesterday in the aftermath of yesterday’s ambush. As fears of an all-out war grew, Turkey’s foreign minister promised his country will pursue diplomacy before it sends troops across the frontier. The ambush outraged a frustrated Turkish public. Demonstrations erupted across the country and opposition leaders called for an immediate strike against rebel bases in Iraq, despite appeals for restraint from Iraq, the US and European leaders.

In Washington, the State Department said the US had opened an all-out diplomatic push to urge Turkey not to invade northern Iraq.

“In our view, there are better ways to deal with this issue,” said spokesman Sean McCormack, stressing that the US regards the PKK as a terrorist organisation.

“We will continue these diplomatic efforts with all good intentions to solve this problem caused by a terrorist organisation,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.

“But in the end, if we do not reach any results, there are other means we might have to use.”