Turkey pulls veil over falterin

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From: newsdesk at newsdesk.aps.nl (Newsdesk Amsterdam)
Subject: Re: Turkey pulls veil over faltering Iraq operation
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Turkey pulls veil over faltering Iraq operation
By Aliza Marcus

    ZAKHO, Iraq, Mar 27 (Reuter) - Turkey Monday tried to pull the veil
over its huge anti-guerrilla operation in Iraq which troops on
the ground said was yielding sparse results against elusive
Kurdish rebels.
    Foreign journalists were blocked from entering the Iraqi
border from Turkey in an apparent bid to curtail reports of
civilian casualties in the week-long drive, the largest military
campaign of Turkey's modern history.
    Military authorities in Diyarbakir, nerve center of the
operation, cancelled a news briefing Monday without explanation
for a second day in a row.
    Turkey launched the operation, sending 35,000 soldiers into
northern Iraq, to try to smash bases of the rebels -- guerrillas
of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) -- fighting for a homeland
in southeast Turkey.
    It's Western allies have expressed fears of civilian
casualties and concern for human rights.
    Secretary of State Warren Christopher Monday warned Turkey
against keeping troops in northern Iraq for an extended time and
about reported attacks on innocent civilians.
    The remarks, conveyed to Turkey's leaders over the weekend
and later to reporters at the State Department, indicated a
growing U.S. unease with Ankara's incursion into Iraq.
    ``Over the weekend I sent a message to both the prime
minister and the foreign minister telling them that we were
concerned about the passage of time, concerned about reports we
have had with respect to human rights violations,'' Christopher
said.
    ``We told them that we thought the support of the United
States and the international community would be forthcoming only
if troops were promptly withdrawn and they lived up to
statements they made at the time the troops were first sent
in,'' Christopher said.
    Washington is in a dilemma over Turkey because of its
importance as a NATO ally and base for the U.S.-led operation to
enforce a no-fly zone over northern Iraq -- ironically to
protect Iraqi Kurds against attack by Baghdad's forces.
    German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and other European
ministers have criticized the Turkish action from the start
and Monday, Bonn temporarily froze grants it had promised to
give Turkey for the purchase of German frigates.
    But the initial U.S. response was decidedly sympathetic,
with President Clinton saying he understands the need to act
against ``terrorists'' -- the term Washington uses for the PKK.
    Turkish troops preparing to move on a rebel camp at
Haftanin, about 18 miles east of the Iraqi border town of Zakho,
said most inhabitants probably fled deep into the mountains on
the Iraqi-Turkish border weeks ago.
    ``They will probably come back when we leave but our goal is
to clean this area for now,'' an officer told Reuters.
    The army has poured in dozens of M-60 tanks and artillery
pieces into the area around Haftanin, a key target in Turkey's
cross-border push against the PKK.
    Turkish border guards said they received a new directive
requiring permits for journalists to enter northern Iraq.
    ``No one can come in without a pass,'' said an officer at
the main crossing point at Habur in Turkey. But it was unclear
how the necessary passes could be obtained.
Reut16:24 03-27

Reuter N:Copyright 1995, Reuters News Service