Turkey says US backed raids on PKK

About 100,000 soldiers, supported by tanks, artillery and aircraft, are massed near the Iraqi border


Turkey says US backed raids on PKK

The US gave the go-ahead for cross-border attacks on Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq, according to Turkey's military chief.

General Yasar Buyukanit reportedly made the claims on Turkish television late on Sunday as the Iraqi government summoned Ankara's ambassador in Baghdad and demanded an end to the air raids.

"America last night opened Iraqi airspace to us. By opening Iraqi airspace to us last night, America gave its approval to the operation," the Anatolian state news agency quoted Buyukanit as saying.

"The United States gave intelligence."

However, a US embassy official, asked to comment on Buyukanit's remarks, told Reuters news agency: "We have not approved any decision. It is not for us to approve. However, we were informed before the event."


Rest of article at: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AD7FA375-1751-4EF3-A252-614611761C9A.htm