Do not pursue PKK rebels, Zebari tells Turkey

AMMAN (Reuters) – Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari
warned Turkey on Sunday against military incursions to pursue
Kurdistan Workers Party rebels using northern Iraq as a base,
saying this could destabilize Iraq.

Zebari told Reuters U.S. forces in Iraq were poised to
capture the rebels, who have waged a violent campaign against
Turkey to win Kurdish self-determination for decades.

“They are in regions outside the control of the central and
Kurdish government. If they move the American forces could
arrest them. We have an obligation to Turkey and to control all
non-Iraqi armed groups and prevent them from activities against
neighboring countries,” he said.

“We refuse any regional military interference in Iraqi
affairs, whether Turkish, Iranian or Arab, because it destroys
confidence and shifts the focus when our priority is finishing
the political process, improving the security situation and
providing basic services,” Zebari said in an interview.

General Ilker Basbug of the Turkish General Staff said last
week the United States had given orders for the capture of PKK
rebels in Iraq, adding that Turkey had a right to enter Iraqi
territory to attack them if no action was taken.