Turkish prime minister warns of Iraq incursion after elections

Above: A Turkish M-60 tank.

Turkey's prime minister said his country could stage an incursion into northern Iraq if talks with Iraq and the United States after Sunday's general elections fail to produce effective measures against Kurdish guerrillas there, media reports said Friday.

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was expected to visit Turkey after the elections to discuss Turkey's demand that Baghdad crack down on guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq.

"Anything can happen. (Military operation) could come on to the agenda," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a TV show on private ATV channel Thursday night, when he was asked whether a cross-border offensive would be considered after the elections.

"Whatever is necessary could be done immediately. We are capable enough to do it," Erdogan said of a possible incursion into northern Iraq, which he said the rebel group was using to launch attacks on Turkey.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

Related Link:|
Iraq protests Turkish shelling, says 'war planes' involved

Related Link:
Reports: Heavy shelling by Turkey today leaves forest areas ablaze

Related Link:
'Sources': Turkish troop strength now 200,000 at Iraq border

Related Link:
Iran shells Kurd fighters in Iraq

Related Link:
Turkey: U.S. weapons in hands of PKK

Related Link:
Iraq Foreign Minister: 140,000 Turkish troops massed on Iraq border

Related Link:
Turkish government, military agree on Iraq incursion plans; 'Everything can happen in one day'

Related Link:
Turkish Foreign Minister: Plans for cross-border attack prepared down to 'the finest detail'; Says will act unless PKK curbed

Related Link:
Report: Hundreds forced to flee after Turkish attacks in northern Iraq

Related Link:
Turkish state prosecutors open 'investigation' into Barzani

Related Link:
PKK threatens more attacks unless Turkey ends military operations

Related Link:
Iraq protests 'intensive shelling' by Turkey, says causes 'huge damage'; Villages being evacuated

Related Link:
Analysis: Major Turkey incursion in Iraq would be U.S. nightmare

Related Link:
Report: Iran, Turkey shelling across Iraq border

Related Link:
Reports: Turkish 'security zones' masking battles; F-16s conduct air strikes inside Iraq

Related Link:
Kurd president Barzani rejects Turkish call to curb PKK as Iraq President Talabani stands at his side

Related Link:
Conflicting reports on Turkish troops in Iraq

Related Link:
'Security Officials': Several thousand Turkish troops cross into northern Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Turkey launches bombardment against border area in Kurdish Iraq

Related Link:
Leader says PKK will resist Turkish incursion into Iraq

Related Link:
Maliki warns Turkey against incursion into Iraq

Related Link:
Turkish General says fighting Iraqi armed forces a possibility

Related Link:
Turkish General: Army prepared to attack in Iraq

Related Link:
Dispute over raising Kurdish flag as U.S. hands over control of 3 provinces to Kurds

Related Link:
Turkish army build-up fuels anxiety on Iraq border

Related Link:
Turkish PM Erdogan: 'We expect the United States and Iraq to destroy' PKK bases

Related Link:
Iraq urges Turkey to resolve PKK issue politically

Related Link:
Turkish government says it would back military in any offensive in northern Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Turkish tanks carry out exercises at Iraq border

Related Link:
Analysis: The Turkish military weighs in