"Iraqi Kurds stir Turkish fears
ANKARA � A leading Iraqi Kurd has warned Turkey not to meddle in Iraq�s affairs, saying that any military intervention aimed at stalling the creation of a Kurdish state will end in �disaster.�
Turkey is alarmed at what it sees as a drive by the Kurds of northern Iraq to cement their autonomy and possibly seek independence, Reuters reported. The fear is that such moves could re-ignite separatist activism in southeast Turkey.
Turkey is especially concerned that the Kurds may wrest control of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk at the expense of local Arabs and Turkish-speaking Turkmen. Thus, Ankara reserves the right to take action to protect its interests."
More:February 17, 2005 Headlines |Iraqi Kurds stir Turkish fears
