Middle East

Turkish army build-up fuels anxiety on Iraq border

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-05-30 16:36

CLOSE LINKS TO IRAQ

Local concerns are focused on the impact of an incursion, which would hurt relations between Turks and Kurds, and also on the economy of the impoverished region, closely linked with northern Iraq in trade terms as well as ethnically.

"This (operation) would mean great suffering, great losses and a blow to the harmony between Turks and Kurds," said Muhsun Kunur, mayor of the town of Silopi, around 15 km from the official border gate to Iraq.

The prospect of an operation has also stirred tensions between Turkey and the United States.

On Tuesday, Turkey formally asked Washington to avoid any further violation of its airspace after two US F-16 warplanes briefly flew into Turkish airspace near the Iraqi border.

US diplomats said the incident was an "accident" but Turkish media said it was intended to send a message to Ankara not to send its troops into Iraq.

But pressure within Turkey for an incursion is growing after a suicide bombing in the capital Ankara last week killed six people and injured scores more. Authorities blamed the attack on the PKK, which denied any involvement.

A day later, six soldiers were killed when their vehicle was blown up by a landmine believed to have been planted by the separatist guerrillas.

Erdogan feels the need to act tough ahead of national polls due in July. On Tuesday, he reiterated his frustration over the failure of US and Iraqi government forces to crush the PKK rebels in Iraq despite Ankara's regular appeals for action.

More than 30,000 people have died in the conflict with the PKK since the group launched its insurgency in 1984.

Against this backdrop and given the military build-up, locals in Silopi see an operation as increasingly likely.

"We see a 90 percent chance of them crossing over. They are now stationed on the border," said hairdresser Sadik Pusat, 32.

"If the military goes into northern Iraq we will have to leave our lives here and migrate to the West."