The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has condemned a Kurdish militant assault near its border that killed 24 Turkish troops, saying Iraq will cooperate with Turkey on securing the region.
"The Iraqi government condemns the PKK terrorist acts...and confirms again that Iraq will not be a shelter and harbour any foreign terrorist armed groups," said a statement by the ministry. It added that the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government will cooperate with the Turkish government "to prevent such acts from being repeated."
The reaction from Baghdad came as the slain Turkish troops were buried in Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkish warplanes continued their bombing raids on suspected rebel bases in northern Iraq in response to the attack.
Turkish media reported 200 to 250 fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) crossed from their bases in northern Iraq into Turkey on October 18, attacking military posts in what is said to be the deadliest insurgent attack in Turkey in 18 years.
More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.
compiled from agency reports
"The Iraqi government condemns the PKK terrorist acts...and confirms again that Iraq will not be a shelter and harbour any foreign terrorist armed groups," said a statement by the ministry. It added that the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government will cooperate with the Turkish government "to prevent such acts from being repeated."
The reaction from Baghdad came as the slain Turkish troops were buried in Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkish warplanes continued their bombing raids on suspected rebel bases in northern Iraq in response to the attack.
Turkish media reported 200 to 250 fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) crossed from their bases in northern Iraq into Turkey on October 18, attacking military posts in what is said to be the deadliest insurgent attack in Turkey in 18 years.
More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.
compiled from agency reports