Iraq Protests Turkey's Cross-Border Shelling

Turkish armored vehicles close tro the Iraqi border (AFP) June 9, 2007 -- Iraq has accused Turkey of "intensively shelling" its northern Kurdish region this week and has handed the Turkish envoy to Baghdad a protest letter.

A statement from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry today said the shelling on June 6-7 had caused "huge damage" in an area around Dohuk and Irbil.

The statement was the first government confirmation of the shelling. Turkey has been building up its forces along the border with northern Iraq, which it says is used by Kurdish separatists to launch attacks into Turkish territory.

(AP, AFP, Reuters)