Turkey pounds rebels, warns US over ties

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Source: afp

Turkey pounds rebels, warns US over ties

by Hande Culpan 27 minutes ago

SIRNAK, Turkey (AFP) - The Turkish army pounded Kurdish rebels near the Iraqi border Tuesday as Ankara warned that ties with Washington would suffer as long as the separatists enjoyed sanctuary in northern Iraq.


Cobra helicopters fired missiles at rebel positions on the Cudi mountains in Sirnak province, which borders Iraq, where fighting was continuing for a second day. Three soldiers have been killed in the clashes, officials said.

Smoke from artillery fire could be seen above the rugged hills while at least one Sikorsky transport helicopter dropped off troops and a convoy of military trucks headed for the Iraqi border.

The fighting comes after about 100 members of the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed Monday in neighbouring Hakkari province after the army surrounded them and blocked their escape routes to Iraq.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071030/wl_afp/turkeykurdsunrest;_ylt=AlxAqIdJZQ15yY.my2MN0b6s0NUE