In an unexpected press conference today, Turkish chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt asked for government approval to launch a military operation into northern Iraq to fight outlawed PKK guerillas whom he said were "accelerating their terrorist attacks and infiltration in Turkey".

"An operation into Iraq is necessary," Büyükanıt said. "Would it be useful? Yes, it would. But there needs to be a political decision for this operation to take place".

Evaluating Gen. Büyükanıt's words to bianet, Turkey's Human Rights Foundation (TİHV) chair Yavuz Önen said: "He targeted everybody from academics, the government, the European Union to human rights activists but avoided to mention anything about the policies of United States".

Önen argues, overall, Büyükanıt's speech signals a period of increased pressure and control over the forces of democracy in the country as he aims to block any debate on increasing freedoms and rights, forcing people to self-censorship.

Referring to Büyükanıt's criticism on current legislation and how it scrutinizes the fight against terrorism, Önen voices fears of implementation of legislative changes resembling martial law, which in return would curb the freedoms in Turkey.

"Efforts to undermine the army"

Holding his first press conference since taking office almost eight months ago, Büyükanıt attempted to address the latest developments regarding the army such as leaked documents recently run by political weekly magazine Nokta, which unearthed a memorandum that classified Turkish press members as pro-military and anti-military as well as diaries said to have belonged to former Navy Commander Adm. Özden Örnek that revealed two failed coup attempts organized by the top commanders of the military.

Gen. Büyükanıt described the incidents as "attempts to undermine the Turkish armed forces".

Making reference to the upcoming presidential election in the parliament, Büyükanıt described the president that the army would like to see as "someone who should abide by the Turkish Republic's unchangeable principles such as integrity and a secular character not only in words but also in deed".(EÜ)