Turkish leader demands crackdown in N. Iraq

[Charlie Brown]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N16589112.htm

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The Turkis government will take "the necessary steps" unless U.S.-led or Iraqi forces crack down on Kurdish guerrillas from Turkey in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday

Erdogan said he had discusssed the presence of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari on Thursday on the sidelines of a United Nations summit, as well as with U.S. President George W. Bush earlier this week.

"Our expectations about the PKK continue and I can tell you that no concrete steps have been taken so far," he said. "Since the Iraqi security forces are too weak so far, the U.S. and coalition forces should help to act against the PKK."

Asked under what circumstances Turkey might have to take action itself, Erdogan said: "We are doing what is necessary inside our own borders, but if the circumstances change, as we have said, the necessary steps will be taken."