During a cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called US President George W. Bush. They evaluated the steps taken in the fight against the PKK since their meeting in Washington on 5 November.

"PKK also enemy of Iraq"

According to Ntvmsnbc.com, Erdogan and Bush expressed the desire to continue their collaboration on military intelligence.

The Cnnturk.com news website quoted Bush as saying, "The PKK is not only the enemy of Turkey and the USA, but also of Iraq."

In the conversation, which centred around "collaboration" and the "common enemy PKK", Erdogan emphasised that Turkey supported Iraq's unity, integrity and stability, and that the cross-border operations were only targeting the PKK. There was no negative attitude towards the people in Northern Iraq, he said.

Talabani and Barzani met 

According to the Sulaimaniyah-based PUKmedia, Iraqi President Celal Talabani and the President of the Regional Kurdistan Government, Mesut Barzani, met in Duka yesterday. They are said to have discussed the cross-border operations, the PKK, and the situation in Kerkuk.

The Ntvmsnbc.com website quoted Talabani as saying, "We acknowledge Turkey's right to defend itself against a terrorist organisation. We know Turkey's sensitivities. We will not stay silent, but we will not declare war." Asked whether agreement had been sought over operations before they started, Talabani denied such collaboration.

Talabani said that they had delivered a note to Turkey but did not want to exaggerate the events: "We want Turkey to offer its friendship."

Barzani, on the other hand, used stronger language: "We condemn the event. Civilian settlements were also bombed. Many of our citizens lost their lives. We are continuing meetings to stop these attacks." (NZ/TK/AG)