Turkey Says U.S. Orders PKK Arrests In Iraq

19 July 2005 - Turkish General Ilker Basbug said today that the United States has ordered the arrest of top Kurdish rebels of the PKK movement in Iraq.
Details are still emerging, and there has been no confirmation of that information from the United States.

Basbug's announcement follows a surge in violence between Turkish forces and Kurdish rebels.

Turkey has been demanding that U.S. and Iraqi forces do more to control PKK fighters operating from Iraqi territory.

Yesterday, Washington cautioned Turkey not to cross the Iraqi border in pursuit of Kurdish rebels. But today, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said his country would cross borders if necessary.

The sanctity of borders is a main theme of a regional security conference being held today in Istanbul. Turkey opened the meeting by saying controlling borders is critical to regional stability.

(AP/Reuters)