Iraq condemns Turkish incursion

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq on Tuesday condemned Turkey'sincursion into northern Iraq to fight Kurdish guerrillas in thestrongest terms so far and demanded an immediate end to what itcalled a violation of its sovereignty.

The Turkish troops crossed the border last Thursday to rootout PKK fighters who have used mountainous northern Iraq as abase for their fight for self-rule in the mainly Kurdishsoutheast of Turkey since the 1990s.

"The cabinet expressed its rejection and condemnation forthe Turkish military interference, which is considered aviolation of Iraq's sovereignty," the Iraqi government said ina statement released by spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

"The cabinet stresses that unilateral military action isnot acceptable and threatens good relations between the twoneighbours."

Dabbagh said earlier on Tuesday that a Turkish envoy wouldmeet Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and seniorgovernment leaders including Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebariin Baghdad on Wednesday.

Turkish troops, backed by warplanes and artillery, havebeen fighting Kurdish guerrillas at close quarters as theyadvance on Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) bases.

The Turkish General Staff has said the total PKK death tollin the offensive has risen to 153, and that 17 of its ownsoldiers have been killed. PKK claims that 81 Turkish troopshave been killed could not be verified.

BATTLE-HARDENED

Dabbagh earlier said Baghdad feared the military operationcould expand if peshmergas, Kurdistan's security forces, becameinvolved.

"We want to maintain good relations with Turkey," Dabbaghtold a news conference.

"Turkey has to understand the serious situation which mightdevelop as a result of a military mistake which might takeplace between the peshmergas and Turkish forces," he said.

Kurdistan's battle-hardened peshmergas have so far stayedon the sidelines during the operation. Iraqi Kurds have littlesympathy for the PKK but there is widespread anger at theincursion.

So far there have been no reports of civilian casualtiesbut residents in villages near the border say they are beingtargeted in Turkish air strikes and artillery barrages.

With pressure growing at home, Ankara launched theoperation last week in Iraq's Kurdistan after saying Iraqiauthorities had failed for years to crack down on the rebels.

Baghdad has called for a diplomatic solution to resolve thePKK problem. It says it has taken some measures to deal withthe rebels but is focused on trying to stabilise the rest ofIraq.

The area, near important sources of Iraq's rich oilreserves, has been one of the few relatively stable regionssince the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Turkish military sources have estimated the size of theincursion at 10,000 troops. Washington has said the incursionshould be as short an operation as possible.

Turkey blames the PKK, defined as a terrorist group by theUnited States and the European Union, for the deaths of nearly40,000 people since it began its armed struggle in 1984.

Turkey's deputy prime minister, Cemil Cicek, has saidTurkish troops would withdraw once they had completed theirmission and other Turkish officials have stressed the offensivewould be limited.

(Writing by Paul Tait; Editing by Samia Nakhoul)