Turkey, Iraq Sign Counterterrorism Pact

09/28/2007

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey and Iraq on Friday signed a counterterrorism pact aimed at cracking down on separatist Kurdish rebels who have been attacking Turkey from bases in Iraq.

The agreement, however, falls short of meeting Ankara's demand to send troops in pursuit of Kurdish rebels fleeing across the border into northern Iraq, Turkey's Interior Minister Besir Atalay said. The deal, broadcast live on television, was signed by Iraq's Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani and Atalay.

"It was not possible to reach a deal on chasing Kurdish rebels, however, we hope this issue will be solved in the future," Atalay said. "We are expecting this cooperation against terrorism to be broadened as much as possible."

Under the deal, the countries commit themselves in cracking down activities of terrorist groups, capture and extradite members of.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the United States to act against Kurdish rebels who have escalated attacks on his country from bases in Iraq, warning that continued inaction was harming U.S. relations with its key Muslim ally.

Turkey has become increasingly frustrated with the U.S. for failing to live up to promises to tackle separatist guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.