Talabani calls on Kurdistan fighters to 'put an end to armed struggle or at least stop their operations for one or two years' against Turkey, Iran

Above: PKK fighters in Iraq. Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed recently in the New Yorker magazine that American forces were supporting the PKK-aligned PJAK movement as part of their strategy to destabilize the Tehran government.

Iraq wants Kurdish rebels based in its northern region of Kurdistan to stop using the area to launch attacks against neighbouring Turkey and Iran, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said.

Talabani, on a visit to the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya on Friday, said his comments did not mean Baghdad was threatening the rebels, who are holed up along northern and northeastern border areas.

"We ask them to ... put an end to armed struggle or at least stop their operations for one or two years against these countries to avoid foreign interference in the Kurdistan territory," Talabani said in a recording of his news conference seen on Saturday.

Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas took up arms against Turkey in 1984 with the aim of creating an ethnic Kurdish homeland in the country, home to up to 15 million Kurds.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

Related Link:
Pentagon probes report that some missing weapons in hands of PKK

Related Link:
Kurdish Prime Minister: Turkish commando incursion was coordinated with Kurdistan

Related Link:
Report: Turkish commandos stage raid into Iraq following artillery barrage

Related Link:
Report: U.S.-Turkey in covert joint operation to suppress PKK; Includes use of U.S. Special Forces

Related Link:
Turkish prime minister warns of Iraq incursion after elections

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