US struggles to avert Turkish intervention in northern Iraq

A Kurd is arrested at an Istanbul rally on Wednesday. Turkey’s leaders are under pressure to crack down on Kurdish militants. Photograph: Murad Sezer/AP

· Ankara claims Kurdish rebels preparing attacks

· Operations could wreck American peace strategy

Simon Tisdall in Ankara
Thursday March 22, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

The US is scrambling to head off a "disastrous" Turkish military intervention in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq that threatens to derail the Baghdad security surge and open up a third front in the battle to save Iraq from disintegration.

Senior Bush administration officials have assured Turkey in recent days that US forces will increase efforts to root out Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) guerrillas enjoying safe haven in the Qandil mountains, on the Iraq-Iran-Turkey border....>

LinkHere