Wednesday, July 26, 2006

IRAQ: U.S. SEEKS TO DEFUSE TENSION WITH TURKEY OVER KURDS

"IRAQ: U.S. SEEKS TO DEFUSE TENSION WITH TURKEY OVER KURDS

The US commander in Iraq General George Casey's visit to Sulaymaniya this week, during which he met the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Massoud Barzani, is part of concerted efforts by Washington to contain the crisis between the Kurdish regional government and neighbouring Turkey. A senior figure of the Kurdish Patriotic Union - commenting the reported Turkish preparations for a possible attack to root out militants of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) along the border - said Casey was 'trying to head off a showdown'. "

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