Anti-terror pact against Kurds agreed on

Iraq and Turkey have agreed to sign a counter-terrorism pact to crack down on separatist Kurdish rebels holed up in bases in northern Iraq, Turkish and Iraqi officials said yesterday.

No details were made public, although private NTV television reported, citing unidentified Iraqi and Turkish sources, said the deal would require Turkish forces to seek Iraqi authorization to cross the border for small-scale operations to chase separatist Kurdish rebels.

A Turkish official said a deal would be signed, but refused to give details. He spoke on condition of anonymity.